PREAMBLE

PREAMBLE

“Teach a child in the way he should go;

And when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

These words taken from Proverb 22:6 speak loudly of the responsibility of parents and caregivers to the children entrusted to them. In these modern days with the advent of such a large and diverse selection of electronic gadgets, our children are bombarded with so many distractions from every direction that it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up with their spiritual development.

We as adults, often overwhelmed by the demands for survival, are guilty of neglecting our responsibilities of ensuring our children’s growth. We are losing sight of the fact that at this stage children are at their most receptive phase for absorbing information and unless we make an effort to help them, they are likely to acquire wrong information from other sources.

I believe no one is better equipped or better placed to do the job than the parent or the caregiver. By making use of every opportunity to teach the words of Jesus Christ, to read the Holy Bible as well as by setting personal examples we can build our children’s faith and offer them alternative examples to live by. In this way we can prepare them to deal with the many and varied temptations they will face in life as they go forward.

These stories under the banner “The Old Lady and Ana” grew out of a discussion I had with my cousin Starr Sabga during which we lamented that our children are not being exposed to reading and discussing the bible as we were. We both felt that as a result of this we are missing a very important opportunity to expose them to God’s words and running the risk of losing them.

The stories are strictly my interpretation of selected passages from the Bible based on my Christian education and on my own life experience. They are meant for the younger child, as examples of how we may use day to day experiences to learn about God’s word. They are by no means exhaustive but I trust they may serve to get other parents and caregivers to do the same.

If this happens, then I would consider myself fully rewarded.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

21. THE OLD LADY AND ANA-ISAIAH 41: 10-13 (Do not be Afraid)

Ana was quiet all day. Her grand mother finally sought her out after dinner and invited Ana to come sit with her on her favorite chair. After a short pause, her grand mother spoke:

“My child, why are you so sad and quiet. Is something worrying you?”

She initially responded with a shake of her head from side to side indicating a denial, but that quickly changed with a vigorous nod as she replied:

“Yes Gramma, I am really worried and frightened that God will not always be there when we need him. He is so busy taking care of all the big things that are happening in the world that he will not have time to help small people like us with our small worries.”

The old lady put her arm around Ana’s shoulder and with a smile on her lips she quickly reassured her:

“You are so wrong my child. We are all God’s children and he cares for each and e very one of us. He will never, ever, turn his back on us. Let me read his words from his Holy Book:”

Turning to the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 41, she began to read from Verse 10:

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

“You see my dear Ana, God’s words were clear and unequivocal. He promised us, no, he commanded us, not to be worried or afraid for he is with us. He is our God, he will give us the strength and help we need and a promise to support with his righteous hand so that we can do no wrong. These words are meant for all of us, he is with us always; We are never alone.”

Ana, now visibly relieved by the words of her grand mother asked her:

“Gramma, does God say what her would do with the bad people?”

The old lady sat up erect and touching little Ana’s lips replied:

“Yes indeed my sweet child, let me read the next Verse 11":

All who rage against you

will surely be ashamed and disgraced;

Those who oppose you

will be as nothing, and perish.

“He promised us that he will deal with all those people who attack us, or try to threaten or embarrass us, by shaming and disgracing them. He went further by reassuring those of us who trust him, that our enemies will be like nothing and will perish.”

The old lady paused a while, waiting for a response from Ana, who by this time had become obviously delighted by the words she heard, and then continued to read Verse 12:

Though you search for your enemies,

you will not find them.

Those who wage war against you

will be as nothing at all.

“In case you did not understand what he said to you, God repeated his promise that he will so dispose of your enemies that even if you search for them, there will be nothing left. What a powerful promise he makes to us! But that was not enough, to reinforce his commitment to us, he went on further to repeat his promise in Verse 13”:

For I am the LORD your God

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will help you.

“What a great and faithful God we have, whose love is so strong that he promises us that we should not be afraid for he will take care of us and help us against all adversaries.”

Little Ana, by now fully reassured and restored, bounded out of the chair and exclaimed:


“God is indeed a great and glorious God,

and I will always trust him and be faithful to him.”



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