The Second Child - A Short Story

It is a big family of twelve siblings, but a good one, and important to everyone in it. Everyone has a place from the youngest to the oldest, and each has a gift, talent, and responsibility to ensure the smooth running of the whole family unit. Funnily enough the same gifts can be found in two or more children. For example, the ability to play a musical instrument, or be good at sports.

The parents work hard, and do their best, loving each one the same, but still some get the feeling of being undervalued, or overlooked. Understandable perhaps in a big family. After all, how can parents or siblings keep an eye on every one? One day, the unthinkable happened.

The next to oldest son went missing. I mean, he wasn’t down for breakfast in his usual fashion of being first at the table before leaving for work. The other brothers and sisters looked at each other and figured he had overslept, or was needed at his workplace early. It was certainly unusual, but that was the most likely explanation. At the end of the first working day, he still didn’t appear for dinner. Probably overtime they thought.

I mentioned the first working day because there were other days to follow where he wasn’t home either. Maybe he arranged a holiday with his pals but forgot to tell us, they all reasoned. After all, we can’t keep up with everyone in a family of our size they figured. He stayed missing from his place at the table for quite a while, but it was a big family you understand. Missing one is no big deal, especially when there is no reason to worry, right? All the others are still here, so the family unit can still function.

Almost by accident, one of his younger sisters was out at her friend’s house, and noticed to her surprise that her missing brother was there. Turned out that he had gone to another house where he knew some of the young men, and they kindly asked if he wanted to stay with them for a wee while. Just for a change you understand. They had almost adopted him into their family, and were delighted to have him there. In effect, they had adopted each other for mutual benefit. By the time the truth came out, it was too late. The deed had been done, and the second oldest son had moved from one family to another, almost seamlessly, without a fuss, and with no one coming after him to check if he was ok.

Who knew? Well, how could they? Who cared? Well, who had reason to suspect anything was wrong? Truth be told, the welcome at his new adopted home was greater than the silence of his absence from his other, old home. So, all in all, no harm done. Right? Both families continued to flourish and grow, and they all remained friends.

Somehow, I can’t help but wonder if that second oldest son was ever really missed by anyone in his family? His parents, or his brothers and sisters? Perhaps that’s something we will never know. At least everyone can satisfy themselves that they did all they could to make him feel welcome enough at home to stay there. Or did they? Maybe it could all have been avoided with a little more care, consideration, thought, and love.

If you love one another, everyone will know you are my disciples. John13:35NIV-Jesus (Spoken to Jesus’ disciples, who were His own earthly family then. That’s us now!)

Grace and Love

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV

There is a theme which occurs constantly through the New Testament, and it is one of Love and Grace. Our verse shows the trinity of the Godhead linked directly with Grace, Love, and Fellowship. In my book that makes this theme pretty important in the mind of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As if to emphasise their importance, the apostle Paul uses them often, so we should not shy away from them either.

I never tire of hearing sermons, or even talking with friends about these real, God driven, passionate thoughts, feelings and emotions. Since we are told directly in 1 John 4:8 that “God IS love”, then the more we love in His Spirit, the more Christlike we become. In fact the verse also says, if we don’t love, then we are not like God. It’s really quite simple. Well I think so anyway.

So, I am disheartened when I hear some folks outside the church play down any or all of these Godlike characteristics. I suppose in a way, I can understand the unchurched and unsaved wanting to play down or discredit the love of God, but not a fellow believer! How can that be possible I hear you ask, and you are echoing my own thinking. Mind you, I am very thankful that I have met very few who fall into that ‘love-less’ (less-loving, not unloving!) mindset and category. But they exist, and the truth is that saddens me.

If we ever needed more proof, John, the apostle of love says it this way: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. 2 John 1:3 NIV

Spare a Thought at Christmas

It’s the time of year for happiness. Kids love the mystery of the surprise gifts under the tree, and adults love putting the tree up, with Christmas lights, tinsel and glitter. There is a certain magic in the festive air for both children and adults alike, especially true when the real meaning of the season is not lost. We must never lose sight of the fact that we celebrate the baby Jesus, who is the ‘reason for the season’.

Sadly, this is not the season of love and peace for everyone, so as you celebrate, remember those who are not so fortunate. They are all around you, and in numbers you wouldn’t recognise because some will go along with the festive flow while feeling empty inside. With others it is more obvious. The homeless poor are in our towns, and we let their presence blend into the background where our consciences are not bothered, but we get some relief  by dropping a coin or two in a charity box found in every shop. Your lonely friend is not so easy to spot.

It’s at Christmas, more than any other time of year, we must look beyond the lights, bargains and carollers, to the one who made the season possible for us to enjoy. Jesus slipped into this His world almost unnoticed, and He came to the lowly and humble of His day. So as we sit around the family table enjoying the good food and company, yes, remember the lonely and those who are less fortunate and don’t have much, but more than anything else give thanks to God above for the gift of His Son. The season is called CHRISTmas for good reason, so go ahead and celebrate your heritage with thanks as the child of God that you are!!

She will give birth to a son. You will name him Jesus. Give him that name because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Always a Son!

Life teaches us many lessons, and in the most unusual circumstances. Like you, I have heard the parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son many times, and heard them preached until I knew the script in detail. Until now, that is, when something was brought to my attention. I knew it in my head, but it had not reached my heart until now. It has to do with the lost son.

He is described as ‘lost’ and a ‘prodigal’ who wasted his life with the pigs in the sty, where he was so low he ate with the animals. Having been born into a wealthy, stately home, this was quite a climb down. We are told his father loved him, and after all, he ran to meet him eventually. Did he go into the sty to get him? No. Did he try to persuade his son out of the mess with fine searching words? No. The father’s actions only started after one thing which was done by the son, and that timing was not known to the father.

The son was always just that. A son. He was never anything else, and it didn’t matter where he was, or in what condition. He was still a son in his father’s eyes. Demanding his inheritance, and wasting the money did not change the fact that he was still his father’s son. The only person who didn’t always see it, or feel it  was the son! Ironic, isn’t it?

To me, the application became clearer. I am my Father’s son, my Heavenly Father’s son, and it doesn’t matter what I get myself into, or how I treat my Father, I am still His son! He only needs me to realise something, or to be more precise, to do something. What was it that prompted the prodigal father’s action? It was the fact that the lost son had to realise he was lost, and then these words, which I love, “He came to himself”! He realised that his Father loved him, although not sure of his welcome, but he started for home anyway. You know the rest of the story. He is accepted into the family as a full heir and confirmed as the son he always was, with all the forgiveness and love that his father can give him. No doubt, no second thoughts, no fears.

My lesson is not in the homecoming, although that is great, but in the realisation that the prodigal son (still a son) “came to himself”, as a personal decision, and a self realisation. No music. No fanfare. No sermon. His choice. The music and the words already had their time in his life. Now it was his responsibility to respond, and he knew it. He “came to his senses” and his father immediately responded. I wonder what it will take to bring us to the same place? I trust it is not one of those ‘pig sty’ experiences!