How many of us remember traveling to our grandparents
during the holidays and spending at least one night in their homes? I
do. We would travel north about 80 miles from Stanton, Texas, to
Brownfield, Texas to see my Dad’s parents. As we drew near to
Brownfield, we would exit off the main highway onto the “bumpy road” (as
we called it) to go to Mamaw’s & Papaw’s house. There we would enjoy
wonderful meals and great visits with our grandparents, aunts, uncles,
and cousins.
Ronald and
Linda George of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania have memories of their
grandchildren coming to their home to spend the night. The
grandchildren remember it, too. The five grandchildren – all now adults
with families of their own – decided to surprise their grandparents with
a sleepover. Grandma George had suffered a health scare and her
grandchildren wanted to demonstrate their loving support. The
grandchildren, aging in range from 26 – 32, decided on a particular
night to show up at their grandparents’ home. It had been 20 years
since they had spent the night with their grandparents as a group.
When they
arrived at their grandparents’ home, the grandparents were elated… and
concerned. “Who is taking care of the 11 great-grandchildren?” “Where
are you all going to sleep?” Grandpa and Grandma George were assured
that the great-grands were cared for and that a spot on the floor was
just fine for the grandkids to sleep.
What were
some of the most memorable moments of the sleepover? One was the domino
game that was so engaging that they decided to forego watching a movie
together. A hearty breakfast cooked by Grandpa George – just like he
used to – was another wonderful memory relived and made. *
The
grandchildren gave their grandparents one of the greatest gifts of all:
the gift of presence. I’m confident that Grandpa and Grandma George
will affirm that the gift of the presence of their grandchildren for a
sleepover is greater than any gift that money can buy.
When we were
lost and dying in our sins, God gave us the gift of His presence. “The
Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His
glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full
of grace and truth” (John 1:14 NIV). God sent His Son to us to
demonstrate His great love for us and to pay the price for our
redemption from sin (John 3:16).
To save us
from our sin, Jesus had to give His life on the cross as payment for our
sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). The blood that Jesus shed in His death
atones for the sins of those who accept His offer of salvation
(Ephesians 1:7).
God will save and give eternal life to those who
place their faith
and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from
their sins in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confess
Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are
baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will
continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of
His Word (1 John 1:7-9).
When we were
separated from God and dying because of our sins, God gave us the gift
of His presence: Jesus, the Son of God, came to us – to save us. Won’t
YOU accept His offer of salvation and eternal life through your trusting
obedience?
-- David A.
Sargent
* Information gleaned from “Pennsylvania grandkids
surprise their grandparents with 'adult cousins sleepover' for the
holidays” by Genevieve Shaw Brown of Fox News,
www.foxnews.com.
David A. Sargent,
Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
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