(The Story of Jesus)
Many of us might have traveled to see family this weekend. I know you did because of all the Facebook posts! Most of our family came to our house, so we didn’t travel. We always have great expectations as we get together as family and friends, don’t we?. We miss them. We “freeze-frame” the kids (and some adults) as being that little, sweet kid that did some cute tricks…when they were five. Now, they are grown up, but our minds won’t let them be older and wiser. So we tend to treat them as they were before, all because our minds only see them as they were before. It happened to me. It happens to all of us. It happened to Jesus! He understands.
“When Jesus finished telling these stories, he left there, returned to his hometown, and gave a lecture in the meeting house. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. ‘We had no idea he was this good!’ they said. ‘How did he get so wise, get such ability?’ But in the next breath they were cutting him down: ‘We’ve known him since he was a kid; he’s the carpenter’s son. We know his mother, Mary. We know his brothers James and Joseph, Simon and Judas. All his sisters live here. Who does he think he is?’ They got their noses all out of joint.”
“But Jesus said, ‘A prophet is taken for granted in his hometown and his family.’ He didn’t do many miracles there because of their hostile indifference.” Matthew 13, Msg
We need to work harder at forgetting a person’s past and rejoice in the person they have grown to be right now. Ask more questions about where they are in life and the dreams they have for the future! They might come home more often if we do!
DON’T DO THIS!
I remember my cousins and I, were so tried of the first comment always said at funerals and family reunions: “My, how you’ve grown!” (Of course being 4’11” at the time, it wasn’t even a great observation of me!) Being ornery, we decided to reply: “And my, my, my, how you’ve grown!”, motioning with hands how wide. Yeah, our parents put a stop to that quickly. But you get the drift.
DO THIS…
Next time someone comes back home, try to ask questions with sincere interest in who they are now and/or just hug on them awhile and just listen. They will tell you if we wait, because they are dying to tell you! Treat them as you would like to be treated. It does not matter where they been, but it matters more where they are going in life. Cherish the moment well. Jesus understands and will help us.
Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word ALWAYS makes us think! Your Word makes us feel for Jesus’ reception in his own hometown with wonder and chagrin at the comments made by the small town people who knew him then. They apparently didn’t really know him at that moment in time and were not interested enough to even try to know Jesus, the Son of God. We get it, Lord. We believe. We do not want to be small-minded people who can only think of the past. Help us to always treat people as they are today, not who they were, or even who we would like them to be, but who they are today! Thank you, Lord. What a lesson for us! In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 