My Mental Pictures!

I wish I had had a camera with me--in particular two times this weekend. Instead I have my mental pictures.

Saturday morning, after our Christmas program rehearsal and most had left, I looked up on the stage and there was Avery with her cute red fur collared hat and coat standing adoringly at the manger saying goodbye to Baby Jesus!

Last night the grandchildren and their parent's came over to help "decorate" our house for Christmas. Grampy decided to get his Lionel train out and set it up with strict instructions that they should not touch it unless Grampy was right there and watching them. They all stood around taking their turns running it and oohing and aahing over it. When that was all over with and the children went on their merry ways playing and "decorating" the rest of the house, I looked over and there sat Kaleigh right next to the train. It was a picture of self-control and restraint. She sat with her fingers wiggling in her lap just itching to touch the train again. Every once in a while she'd look up at us and look back at the train, raise her hands to touch it, and put them back down again-- all with a look on her face that showed it took every ounce of strength in her not to break the rule.

These two mental pictures stand out in my mind as every Christian's daily walk in the faith. Standing next to Jesus adoring Him, and using every ounce of strength in our souls to follow His ways!