Children Asked to Define Love
A group of children were once asked, “What does ‘love’ mean?” Here are some sample answers:
- Rebekah, 8, said, “When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time—even when his hands got arthritis, too. That’s love.”
- Billy, 4, said, “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”
- Bobby, 7, says, “Love is what’s in the room at Christmas, if you stop opening presents and listen.”
- Nikka, 6, says, “If you want to learn to love better, you should start with someone you hate.”
- Tommy, 6, says, “Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.”
- Cindy, 8, says, “During my piano recital, I was on a stage, and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me, and I saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. And I wasn’t scared anymore.”
- Jessica, 8, says, “You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot.”
Mark Buchanan, in the sermon “The Greatest of These,” PreachingToday.com
11-3-10
Pastor Jeff, I wish to comment on a statement in your sermon about ‘having all things in common.’ You said that it is a communistic form of living. I agree with that but have been thinking about our fear of the type of communism that we are accustomed to and the different kind that Paul was addressing. We are all members of one body, the body of Christ scripture says. We as the body are considered the bride of Christ as well. It is a collective picture of many parts intricately functioning as one. The communion of saints is a beautiful and wonderful interaction where persons who have accepted Christ as Saviour and Lord work and think alike with one purpose, that of sharing Christ and nurturing others toward becoming part of that body. ‘Having all things in common’ is a heartfelt reaction to the needs of others in that body. Consider that living in Heaven will be a communal of saints sharing and praising God for the blessings of life. You better believe that I will sing a hearty “Amen” when you tell of God’s blessings to you because I have felt that spiritual intervention in my life as well. When others have needs, should I do any less than share of what I posess to help them. I believe it is called ‘sacrificial giving.’ Jesus was the prime example of sacrificing all he had for our salvation. Am I any better than he? Should I do any less?
I believe that in grasping and living by the commonality of things, we are being prepared for communion in Heaven.