There’s so much selfishness to teach out of my kids. I feel like I am teaching all the day long. Sometimes though, my kids teach me. Tonight my son’s compassionate little heart taught me a scripture application I had never thought of before.
Our bedtime stories are usually about airplanes or horses or Buzz Lightyear. I make up plots as we go and my three-year-old adds details. But tonight I picked the Biblical parable of the wise and foolish home-builders. In the final scene, the wise man was sitting by the fireplace in his warm sturdy house on the rock and the foolish man was standing outside cold in the rain staring sad at the sandy pile of rubble. I asked my son if he was the wise man or the foolish man. He replied with a serious nod, “I want to be the wise man” then added, “But can I let the foolish man come in my house? I can help him get dry and he can drink hot chocolate with me in my house.”
No judgement. Just impartial, considerate, sincere, time-on-your-hands love. “Yes, buddy, you can invite the cold foolish man to your warm house. High five.”
How quick are we grown-ups to invite “the foolish” into our homes? Lonely and struggling people who built their lives on sandy foundations. People who feel like failures and don’t know where to turn. Even those of us willing to open doors to children in foster care might hesitate to entertain the likes of their parents (many of whom are aching for guidance and love). We who have experienced grace become grace extenders. Christians are called to love impartially and sincerely, forgiving not shaming. Perhaps sharing a cup of hot chocolate and good conversation in a warm living room is a good place to start in helping others and in righting our hearts.
“Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it… and don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.” Hebrews 13:2,16
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post, Heather!! I’m also proud of Nate for being such a compassionate little boy.
Heather darling, I have not had the privilege of meeting you however, I wanted you to know how much your hubby means to me and how amazing your writing impresses and encourages me! Blessings gal as you tread thru this new journey of being a mom to three babes! Christopher married well!