|
When I first
learned that I was going to be a grandma, I bought the
full set of Bible stories for children called Alice
in Bibleland. I told grandpa (my hubby) that it
would be a nice addition to add to our Christian library. We could
place them right next to the Chronicles of
Narnia by C.S. Lewis. A little premature to think that
an infant could understand the stories in the Bible, so they
collected a lot of dust before they were ever
unveiled.
My first
grandchild was a boy and he showed very little interest in the
books. But the day finally arrived when my granddaughter bypassed
the books with the bright pictures and favored the books colored
with pastel watercolors. At first she would bring just one book but
after a couple of overnight stays she found that she could stay up a
little later if she brought two or three. Now her attention span
only lasted through a couple pages but I found that if I pointed at
pictures, instead of reading the words, she would respond to them.
She loved the rainbows, flowers, birds, lions, the big boat, big
fish, and even the baby in a stable.
When I
announced it was time for bed, she would remind me that it was time
for a Bible story. She would grab as many books as her tiny hands
would hold and we would head upstairs to what she thought of as her
room – the guest room and prepare to hear the wonderful stories of
the Bible.
After a
couple years I discovered that the book series became a treasured
gift for both of us. The whole series is about a little girl named
Alice who walks through a magic window that leads her directly into
Bibleland. Alice is able to witness the stories of the Bible as if
she were really there. While reading some of the stories to my
granddaughter, she mentioned that she would like to be the little
girl in the book so that she could see baby Jesus, Jonah, and Noah.
What a beautiful thought from a 4 year old to want to relive the
stories of the Bible. It was then I realized that the Bible is not
written for us, it’s written to us. It’s God’s love letter to us
about His life, our daily life, and eternal life. His love for us
goes so deep that He wrote a book with each one of us in mind.
Imagine the Love of your life saying, “Let Me tell you about myself
and how much I love you.” Each page that’s turned reveals a mystery,
a way to know Him more completely and more
intimately.
In all of my
granddaughter’s 5 years of experience reading the stories of the
Bible, she has won the game of Bible trivia several times. She can
tell you who the villains are and who the heroes are. She can tell
you the story before the book is opened. When asked what she learned
from the books, she simply replies, “We need to pray more
Grandma!” With a smile
and tired eyes she insists that we still play, "Here's the
Church - here's the steeple" and that leads us right
into our night time prayer. With her hands folded and her eyes
scrunched, as if she’s in pain, we begin to pray. I finally asked
her why she scrunches her eyes and she replied so matter of fact,
“That’s how you pray grandma.”
Written by
the Holy Spirit though Brenda Bates for Bailey – October
2005
Prayer to the Father: Thank
You for sharing Bailey with me. It is through her eyes that a part
of me is revealed. She sees me the same way that I saw my grandma…a
woman of faith. Father I pray that I don’t let her down. I ask that
You protect her from the negative influences that can distance one
from You. I pray that by knowing You, she will make positive choices
instead of following the crowd. I pray that she will always have You
in her life. I pray that she will pass the stories of the Bible on
to her sister Meghan and her school friends. And Lord I ask that You
will hold her protectively in Your loving arms. In Jesus name I
pray. Amen.
Scripture:
But from
everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear
him, and his righteousness with their children's children.
~Psalm 103:17
And the
child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the
grace of God was upon him.
~Luke 2:40
The picture above was taken by Don of Bailey and
myself
in Santa Barbara, CA in April 2005
| 
