Precious Promise

The tears fell as I listened to him sing.
This wasn’t new to him, his mama often cried when she sang solos or gave testimonies. I don’t think he really understood why though. I could picture him catching a glimpse of me, shrugging his shoulder a bit and running to find his brothers. But he didn’t see me cry. My 9 year old grandson singing about His Messiah, our precious promise. I didn’t think my heart could get any fuller.


Why did I cry?


“Messiah, a baby born to save us all.”
My baby was singing about the Baby born to save us all. The significance of the words resounded deep within my soul.


“All we longed for, all we needed shining in a child’s eyes.” Jesus. Just a child yet a Savior. The innocence of childhood grasped me in that moment. My little Ethan. Ethan who has not yet experienced the pain that this sin cursed world can so cruelly throw at him. The heartbreaks that come again and again as we age. No, right now he is just a child singing about His Messiah. One day though, he will remember this moment. Singing with his mama. The words will whisper to his heart when it’s hurting…


“Hope forever. Death defeated.
Because of this one holy night.”


Why did I cry? Because I have known death. I have known heartache. I know what lies ahead for this little man, but I also know his Hope. Jesus will be with him through it all. Everything he longs for, everything he will ever need. His Messiah.


My Messiah.


I listened to his little voice as he reminded me of a future he has yet to live and a promise I can cling to. I don’t need to fear the future. I don’t need to fear the future of my children or my grandchildren.
And I smiled through the tears.
“O come, let us adore Him.”


So many emotions were wrapped up in that moment. That God would use my grandson to remind me of His love in sending His own Son for us all.


The older I get the more I realize how truly sinful I am, and the impact of God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness on my life. I realize the hardness of life, but the promise of a Savior Who walks with us, and sometimes even carries us through it. This brings me to my knees. Someday Ethan will understand. Someday he will cling to the words he sings.


Words that show me a future made beautiful by the past.
“Because of this one holy night.”


What a precious promise.
Messiah.
On our knees we fall.






SCRIPTURE READING:
Hebrews 2:14-18
Isaiah 9:2,6-7