When a child is born into the world, their eyes search for the face of the ones who love them. Years ago, I wrote about this moment in the hospital that was so special to me. They swaddle your little one in a blanket and bring them to your arms to feed or nurse. In the middle of the night, it is just you and them, and their tender face with searching eyes lock into yours. That moment continues the bonding of love, safety, and protection. We become their safe place to come to and to be reassured. In my new Bible study by Kristi Mclelland, “The Gospel on The Ground”, she reminds us of this parental exchange. She uses the earthly example to express the same exchange with Jesus.

“We come into this world looking for a face. Discipleship, then and now, is Jesus looking us in our faces and inviting us to follow him” (p. 17).

Historically, the Jewish people put education as a priority, and as early as 5 years old, they would study the Torah. If a Jewish male excelled in his study of the scriptures by age 15, they would continue in their studies. The male would search for a senior Rabbi to follow and to become just like him. By age 30, if the student did well in his studies, he would become a Rabbi, with only 1 in a 1,000 having this respected role in the community. A male’s Bar Mitzvah literally means “Son of the Commandments,” and at age 13, he was subject to the commandments and would go to work.

When Jesus, a Jewish male, started his ministry at age 30, he turned traditions upside down. Have you ever wondered why his disciples immediately left their homes and positions and followed Him? They were unlikely men who encountered Jesus–not asking to follow Him because they were not selected to follow the path of a Rabbi, but being chosen by Jesus to follow him. Jesus still does this today. He reaches out to us with such love. We never have to beg for His love or acceptance to be more like Him and to know Him. We don’t have to be the 1 in 1,000 or the top of our class.

My oldest daughter is away this weekend at Camp Willow Run’s mother/daughter retreat. Adelaide is about the same age as Victoria when I took her to this retreat about 30 years ago. You can’t really put into words seeing your daughter and granddaughter living out the promises of God. Where did time go? I praise God for Victoria and Leslie’s leadership in continuing a Woman of Worth Mentoring Ministries group. Many of the girls in the group have accepted the love of Jesus and put their faith in Him, including my sweet Adelaide. I can remember as a young mom in the throes of all the fun and planning and praying that God would create a story of His love through the generations. Seeing this play out in such a tender way gives me pause and great spiritual reflection.

When I would leave Camp Willow Run with my daughters, I would ask them to stand by this sign and remind them of the joy the weekend brought to us. Look at sweet Adelaide standing next to the sign! I’m going to find the one with Victoria and post side by side when I do!

I think of Jesus’s beginnings on earth, which was a 100-mile radius, within his teachings and miracles. Think of a place that is 100 miles away from you. How did His love reach the ends of the earth? It is because of this that I can write this blog post. That alone is a miracle to me. I pray for the children not yet born that I will never be in a relationship with because I will be home with Him. I pray they will accept His love, and when he knocks on the door of their hearts, that they will invite Him in to live.

I have not kept up with our WOW website, but it was so fun to remind Victoria and show Adelaide the Camp Willow Run pictures on the website!

They are still singing this song!