Growing with Christ
Illustration
Stories
John peeked around the corner. “Daughter of mine, is there any chance that Ollie is in the kitchen?”
“I haven’t seen him for a bit.” Amy started to get up from the table. “Isn’t he with you?”
“Nothing to worry about,” John said. “We’re playing hide and seek, and your son is hiding and I’m seeking.”
Amy pushed out a chair. “He’s not here and you look like you could use a break.”
“I sure can. I’m exhausted.” John slumped down in the chair. “Does he ever stop?”
“He only stops when he eats and sleeps. Other than that, he’s always on the go at full speed.”
“Oh.” John sighed. “I guess I should keep looking for him then.”
“Honestly, you’ve got a few minutes.” Amy smiled. “The longer it takes you to find him the happier he is with the game.”
“Then I think he is gong to be really happy because the coffee you made smells great.” John poured himself a cup and took a drink. “I’m not as young as I used to be.”
“Nothing like an active pre-schooler to make you feel old, right Dad?”
John smiled at her. “He is a great kid, don’t get me wrong. Just...”
“Busy is the word you’re looking for.”
“Busy works quite well.” John took another sip of coffee. “Does he always ask questions non-stop?”
Amy nodded. “Always.”
“I guess that’s a good thing.” John rubbed his chin. “I’m amazed at how much he has grown and developed since you were here in the summer.”
“He is learning something new every day,” Amy said. “There are days I think I learn more than I did in university just trying to help him find the answers to his questions.”
“That’s one of the joys of having kids. You and your sister were like that - you kept your mother and me busy learning and growing.” John paused. “Sometimes I really miss those days.”
“I remember lots of times looking at the encyclopedia and visits to the museum.” Amy smiled.
“Those were good times.”
“They sure were.” John sipped at his coffee for a moment. “Some of the best days of my life for sure.”
Amy tilted her head. “Do you suppose there is any way to recapture those days?”
“What do you mean?” John asked.
“Well, I remember back then that the world was so fresh and new, and I just loved learning and discovering.” Amy sighed. “Everything now seems so old and routine.”
John narrowed his eyes. “Are you not the same daughter who just finished telling me that you learn more with Ollie than you did in university some days?”
“I guess.” Amy shrugged. “I just miss the freshness of life and learning and growing like him.”
“So, what’s stopping you?”
“What’s stopping me?” Amy held up her hand and started counting on her fingers. “Life. I’ve got to work, juggle schedules with Tim, spend time with Ollie. It seems like there is no time for anything but just getting through the day.”
“Do you remember that Bible story of Jesus getting left behind at the temple?”
Amy nodded. “Yeah, I do.”
“Why do you suppose that Mary and Joseph ended up losing track of Jesus?”
“No idea.” Amy shrugged. “I don’t think the Bible tells us.”
“Not directly, but it does say that they assumed he was with other relatives when they left to go home. I think that means they got busy with life and lost track of him for a bit.” John took a sip of coffee. “Are you bringing Ollie to church?”
“Not yet. I was waiting until he was a bit older.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m worried about keeping track of him. And him making too much noise. And him asking too many questions of the pastor.”
John started counting on his fingers. “I would think keeping track of him at church is no harder than at the park. I’ve never seen a church that minded kids being kids. Most pastors I’ve met love kids who are curious.”
“I suppose it would be good for him.” Amy thought for a moment. “I always enjoyed Sunday School.”
“You always enjoyed church, too. So go there and reconnect with Jesus and I bet you’ll discover something you forgot.”
“What’s that?”
“That there are still lots of things to discover in life and you still need to keep growing into the person you can become.” John held up his hand. “You’re an incredible Mom and wife but you’re not done growing yet, daughter of mine.”
Amy opened her mouth and then closed it. “I think you’re right.”
“I know I’m right.” John drank the last of his coffee. “I think I need to find my grandson because it’s a great day to make a snowman.”
“Check under his bed.” Amy suggested.
Her father gave her a thumbs up and headed off upstairs. She heard squeals of delight and knew her son had been found. Amy smiled. She was glad she made the time to come over during the Christmas break and as she thought about January, she found herself looking forward to the new year.
“I haven’t seen him for a bit.” Amy started to get up from the table. “Isn’t he with you?”
“Nothing to worry about,” John said. “We’re playing hide and seek, and your son is hiding and I’m seeking.”
Amy pushed out a chair. “He’s not here and you look like you could use a break.”
“I sure can. I’m exhausted.” John slumped down in the chair. “Does he ever stop?”
“He only stops when he eats and sleeps. Other than that, he’s always on the go at full speed.”
“Oh.” John sighed. “I guess I should keep looking for him then.”
“Honestly, you’ve got a few minutes.” Amy smiled. “The longer it takes you to find him the happier he is with the game.”
“Then I think he is gong to be really happy because the coffee you made smells great.” John poured himself a cup and took a drink. “I’m not as young as I used to be.”
“Nothing like an active pre-schooler to make you feel old, right Dad?”
John smiled at her. “He is a great kid, don’t get me wrong. Just...”
“Busy is the word you’re looking for.”
“Busy works quite well.” John took another sip of coffee. “Does he always ask questions non-stop?”
Amy nodded. “Always.”
“I guess that’s a good thing.” John rubbed his chin. “I’m amazed at how much he has grown and developed since you were here in the summer.”
“He is learning something new every day,” Amy said. “There are days I think I learn more than I did in university just trying to help him find the answers to his questions.”
“That’s one of the joys of having kids. You and your sister were like that - you kept your mother and me busy learning and growing.” John paused. “Sometimes I really miss those days.”
“I remember lots of times looking at the encyclopedia and visits to the museum.” Amy smiled.
“Those were good times.”
“They sure were.” John sipped at his coffee for a moment. “Some of the best days of my life for sure.”
Amy tilted her head. “Do you suppose there is any way to recapture those days?”
“What do you mean?” John asked.
“Well, I remember back then that the world was so fresh and new, and I just loved learning and discovering.” Amy sighed. “Everything now seems so old and routine.”
John narrowed his eyes. “Are you not the same daughter who just finished telling me that you learn more with Ollie than you did in university some days?”
“I guess.” Amy shrugged. “I just miss the freshness of life and learning and growing like him.”
“So, what’s stopping you?”
“What’s stopping me?” Amy held up her hand and started counting on her fingers. “Life. I’ve got to work, juggle schedules with Tim, spend time with Ollie. It seems like there is no time for anything but just getting through the day.”
“Do you remember that Bible story of Jesus getting left behind at the temple?”
Amy nodded. “Yeah, I do.”
“Why do you suppose that Mary and Joseph ended up losing track of Jesus?”
“No idea.” Amy shrugged. “I don’t think the Bible tells us.”
“Not directly, but it does say that they assumed he was with other relatives when they left to go home. I think that means they got busy with life and lost track of him for a bit.” John took a sip of coffee. “Are you bringing Ollie to church?”
“Not yet. I was waiting until he was a bit older.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m worried about keeping track of him. And him making too much noise. And him asking too many questions of the pastor.”
John started counting on his fingers. “I would think keeping track of him at church is no harder than at the park. I’ve never seen a church that minded kids being kids. Most pastors I’ve met love kids who are curious.”
“I suppose it would be good for him.” Amy thought for a moment. “I always enjoyed Sunday School.”
“You always enjoyed church, too. So go there and reconnect with Jesus and I bet you’ll discover something you forgot.”
“What’s that?”
“That there are still lots of things to discover in life and you still need to keep growing into the person you can become.” John held up his hand. “You’re an incredible Mom and wife but you’re not done growing yet, daughter of mine.”
Amy opened her mouth and then closed it. “I think you’re right.”
“I know I’m right.” John drank the last of his coffee. “I think I need to find my grandson because it’s a great day to make a snowman.”
“Check under his bed.” Amy suggested.
Her father gave her a thumbs up and headed off upstairs. She heard squeals of delight and knew her son had been found. Amy smiled. She was glad she made the time to come over during the Christmas break and as she thought about January, she found herself looking forward to the new year.
