an early Christmas gift

last year our family began the tradition of using a jesse tree to celebrate advent.  our pilot run didn't prove to be so memorable, but this year it's surely a highlight of the season.  if you aren't familiar with the concept, it's inspired by the isaiah 11 passage prophesying Jesus' coming: "a shoot will come up from the stump of jesse . . . " typically, a tree or branch of sorts is chosen and for every day of advent one ornament representing a truth or particular story from Scripture is hung on the tree.  all of the symbols and coinciding teachings point toward the gift of God's Son, connecting thousands of years of history to Immanuel's birth.

kenn and i love how engaged the kids have been while we talk about each story, read from the Bible and pray together.  each day we cut out a simple drawing from a free collection i found online.  one kid colors it, one glues it to a paper background that's been tied with thread, and the third hangs it on our tree.  we've covered creation, how sin entered this world, famous prophets and people like king david and ruth.  every one includes a promise of what a Savior brings. last week, R (who is four) started asking about death.  quite exciting, it was no surprise after all the conversations we've had. he and kenn had a lengthy talk - comical at points - about salvation, whom we know who knows Jesus and how everyone dies.

tonight it was my turn to stay with R on his bed after all five of us prayed and kenn had taken A to her room. R and i chatted about the fun day we had and the upcoming visit to his grandparents'.  and somewhere in the middle R mentioned how Jesus can live in our hearts.  affirming him, i asked if Jesus lives in his.  he nodded yes, so i asked if he prayed about it with daddy. "we talked about it," he said.  when i asked if i could pray with him, he responded with that adorable, happy nod of his.  the bashful grin and gleaming brown eyes melt you away.  so i prayed a little prayer that he repeated after me, confidently.  after celebrating a little, he wanted to talk some more.  does so-and-so have Jesus in his heart?  why did mom-mom's husband die?  people put people in dirt.  God goes everywhere with us.  what does God look like?  we even discussed spirits and how eternal gifts are better than toys. (don't think he agrees with that one yet!)

i made sure to bring daddy back so he could celebrate.  then when i sat with O (10 yr) downstairs, i shared the news with him.  i pondered the beautiful things that may be forming in our kids' hearts as we celebrate Christmas this year, and another portion of isaiah came to mind.  chapter 55 says:

"for as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

amen.
and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you!