Matthew 11:28-29 – Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (NIV)
Recently my grandchildren came to spend a few days with me. They had a wonderful time splashing and playing most of a day in a new pool that had been set up just for them. My grandson, aged seven, wanted to show me how he could do underwater somersaults. When he did, however, the water backed up in his nose and hurt his head something awful. After a few minutes, he was just fine, but later that night, as he lay on his blanket before the television, he started to moan. The headache had come back with such pain that all he could do was moan. Nothing I did for him seemed to help.
I was hurting for him. "Well," I thought, "I will take him to the Lord in prayer." I had read in Mark 10:14, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." (NIV) As I stroked my grandson's hair, I prayed.
The most amazing and gentle thing happened. Our cat, Flower, rose from my granddaughter's lap and proceeded across the blanket until she reached my ailing grandson. Then, ever so gently, she lifted a tiny paw and seemed to reach out ever so softly to touch that hurting head. She nestled by my grandson's head and lay quietly. Slowly my grandson raised his head and said, "Grammie, Flower is working on it."
Well, I just sat there. There was an amazing gentleness in the room; everything became so gentle. In about six minutes the boy looked up and said, "It is gone. Grammie, Jesus sent Flower to help me!"
The headache gone, we rewarded Flower with a fresh boiled egg, and, with thanks in our hearts, we sat for quite some time in that feeling of gentleness that prevailed around us. We had no doubts that it was the Lord who said, "bring your children to me."
Prayer: Lord, we are grateful that gentleness is one of the marks of Your ways in dealing with Your people. Though we may be surprised at the ways Your gentleness is revealed, give us eyes to see, and hearts ready to say, "Thank You, Lord." In Jesus' name we pray, and in Jesus' name we say, "Thanks!" Amen.
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