And they were
bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked
them. But when Jesus saw this, He was
indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not
hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. "Truly I say to you, whoever does not
receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." Mark
10:13-15
The Little Red Wagon
Up in the attic I saw a very old red wagon. I’m not sure exactly how old it is but I am
sure it classifies as an antique. One
wheel tread is missing and the tongue is broken off so its days of hauling are
pretty much done.
Memories of the first “wheels” I had in my life go back to a
Red Ryder Wagon. My first car was a
pretty neat deal as a teen, but the wagon was a major part of my life as a
child. My wagon was a standard
run-of-the-mill model without the sideboards like my neighbor had on his. But it was mine...well, mine and my
brother’s.
I think of the many times I pushed that wagon up and down the
driveway with one foot; so much that my mother complained about me wearing out
the shoe on my left side! Up and down
the drive with my thoughts a thousand miles away. And then, when I was old enough, I pulled it up
the hill on Louisville Street and let it roll!
Again, I was alone in my own world with the air blowing my hair and the
rumble of the wagon on the pavement.
The wagon was a lot of fun to push, but it was really made to
pull around. I loaded the wagon with all
kinds of things. I would put my dog in
the wagon while I pulled it fast around the yard. I hauled dirt from the front yard to the back
to help my dad with the flowerbeds the dog had torn up. I piled it with toys to take to my neighbor’s
house next door. I put my captured
tortoises in it. And, of course, I
pulled my brother.
So, are you remembering your own red wagon? It is amazing what kind of things fly through
our minds when we see certain objects from our past? People, places, feelings and sounds seem to
suddenly surround us. We are whisked
into the past and all of its sentiment. Suddenly
we are a child again and things long ago forgotten are as prominent as yesterday’s
events. Today, we remember the joys of
childhood and the times we played in the yard and with our neighbors.
What we wouldn’t give to go back at times. And we can, because God has given us memories
to recall the good things in life. By
God’s grace, I also recall His hand in my life as I rode the small wagon. I remember the safety and comfort I felt in
His presence while I played and when I said my prayer before sleeping. From our vantage point today, it seems life
was so very simple then.
Today, it seems so much harder to trust as we did then. And yet, that is exactly what God
desires. A simple, child-like faith that
can bring peace and courage in our lives.
As we grow older, the simple things seem so much more complex and our
ability to separate ourselves from the chaos of living is so much more
difficult. Maybe we need to take a ride
in the little red wagon again, let the ride down the hill thrill us once more
and feel the wind of God’s Spirit reminding us He is with us always.
Scripture to Claim:
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all
Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands.
Psalms 143:5
