Bro. Nicholas Cardot once had this on his blog and I thought it was excellent! Enjoy

Some Things To Remember

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking.

Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, ‘Hi.’ He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment. I looked around and saw the source of his merriment.

It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.

We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. ‘Hi there,baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,’ the man said to Erik. My husband and I exchanged looks, ‘What do we do?’ Erik continued to laugh and answer, ‘Hi.’

Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, ‘Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo.’

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot.

The old man sat poised between me and the door. ‘Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,’ I prayed.

As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby’s ‘pick-me-up’ position.

Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the arms of the old man.

Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man’s ragged shoulder.

The man’s eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby’s bottom and stroked his back.

No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.

I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, ‘You take care of this baby.’ Somehow I managed, ‘I will,’ from a throat that contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, ‘God bless you, ma’am, you’ve given me my Christmas gift.’

I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, ‘My God, my God, forgive me.’

I had just witnessed Christ’s love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes.

I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, ‘Are you willing to share your son for a moment?’ when He shared His for all eternity.

The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, ‘To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become as little children.’

Author Unknown

1. Faith is the ability to not panic. (Isaiah 26:3) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

2. If you worry, you didn’t pray. If you prayed, don’t worry. (John 14:14) If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

3. As a child of God, prayer is kinda like calling home every day. (Psalm 119:76) Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. (Romans 5:3-5) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (3) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: (4) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (5)

5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot. (Psalm 46:10) Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

6. Do the math. Count your blessings. (James 5:11) Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts. (Galatians 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (22) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (23)

8. Dear God: I have a problem. It’s me. (James 4:7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted. (Proverbs 25:11) A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

10. Laugh every day – it’s like inner jogging. (Proverbs 17:22) A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

11. The most important things in your home are the people. (Deuteronomy 11:18-20) Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. (18 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (19) And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: (20)

12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional. (Preach it!) (Hebrews 5:13-14) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (13) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (14)

13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open. Come on in. (Revelation 3:20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry. (James 5:8-9) Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (8 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. (9)

15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead. (Hebrews 9:27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

16. We do not remember days but moments. Life moves too fast so enjoy your precious moments. (Psalm 90:12) So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it; otherwise it’s just hearsay. (I Corinthians 10:13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

18. It’s all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done. (Psalm 9:10) And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you’re seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck. (Psalm 31:24) Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. (Psalm 90:8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless efforts…
God knows how hard you have tried.

When you’ve cried so long and your heart is in anguish…
God has counted your tears.

If you feel that your life is on hold and time has passed you by…
God is waiting with you.

When you’re lonely and your friends are too busy even for a phone call…
God is by your side.

When you think you’ve tried everything and don’t know where to turn…
God has a solution.

When nothing makes sense and you are confused or frustrated…
God has the answer.

If suddenly your outlook is brighter and you find traces of hope…
God has whispered to you.

When things are going well and you have much to be thankful for…
God has blessed you.

When something joyful happens and you are filled with awe…
God has smiled upon you.

When you have a purpose to fulfill and a dream to follow…
God has opened your eyes and called you by name.

Remember that wherever you are or whatever you are facing…
GOD KNOWS!!

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Deut 31:6 (KJV)