A Little Child
In the rubble of the city a child roamed. His clothes were
in near shreds and his skin dark with dirt and tan from spending whole days in
the sun. The wind rustled his dark uncombed hair. His dark eyes
looked down to avoid sharp objects from cutting his bare feet. The sun was
setting and the sky was quickly growing from orange to black. In the
distance a tall figure
walked toward the boy. The boy stopped and stood watching and ready to run
if the figure proved to be dangerous. As the silhouette against the sunset
came closer, the boy saw a tall, slim middle-aged man approach him. His
hair was combed, but now wind-blown. He wore a pair of jeans and a
tucked-shirt with some lettering. His blue eyes were looking toward the
boy. He didn't have to worry about his shoed feet getting cut. He
stopped about 5 feet from the boy. Far enough not to be a threat but close
enough so the small boy could see his sincere smile. They stared at each
other for a moment before the man spoke. "My name is Robert. What is
your name?"
The boy studied him a moment before answering. "Jack."
Robert knelt down and took off a backpack he had on his back and took out a
book. Smiling, he handed it to the boy. "Can you read?"
Jack took the book and nodded, "A little bit. What book is
this?"
"It's a book of promises from my Father and Friend. Also from my
Savior."
"What's His name?"
Robert smiled, "Jesus. Jesus died for you. The story is in that
book." Robert opened the book and read the story of Jesus'
death. "He died for you so you can live."
Jack contemplated this for a while. "I am only 9 years old. How
old is this book?"
Robert smiled, "It is eternal. It is ageless. Jesus is
too. No one is to young or to old to receive him in their heart."
Long after the moon rose Jack and Robert talked. That dawn Jack received
Christ. Jack had no parents, no home, and until that night any hope.
Now he had Jesus and had everything. Jack took his little Bible to other
children and even adults and shared its promises and life.
1999
