It’s All About Jesus
by Robin Tyler
Picking up our granddaughter at VBS, she came running to me shaking a piece of paper yelling ‘Look Mimi, It’s all about Jesus!!’. I glanced at the piece of paper nodding my head in agreement of what was causing all her excitement.
We get home and the piece of paper finds it’s way into an unknown location. A few days later it shows up and I pick it up to look at what caused Charlotte’s excitement. Drawn in seven small squares on the piece of paper was the story ‘All about Jesus’, it truly was something to get excited about. At 5 years old, or any age, what powerful truth to learn.
On the page, the seven images depicted Christ from creation to the tomb. It’s not often Christ is brought into the conversation during lessons on creation to children, but it’s an important attribute they need to hear and we need to ponder often. From the very beginning Jesus has been, and Jesus will always be. Here is a list of the seven pictures our granddaughter drew on her piece of paper.
World - Jesus is Creator with God and the Holy Spirit.
Fruit - Man’s sin created a need for Jesus.
Baby - Jesus came down from heaven as a baby.
Man - Jesus was fully man and fully God.
Cross - Jesus died on a cross for our sin.
Lamb - Jesus was the Perfect Lamb Who died.
Tomb - Jesus rose from the tomb defeating sin.
The piece of paper found it’s way to our refrigerator. The most prominent place for masterpieces created by little artist. The words Charlotte called out to me as she waved the piece of paper in the air continue to ring in my ears ‘It’s all about Jesus!’. What a testimony to any ears who hear those words. Gladly proclaiming the truth she heard not only reached my ears, but others within hearing distance. Everything we think, say or do has potential to be a testimony living out the truth ‘It’s ALL about Jesus!’.
A few years after I married, and was still a young bride, our towels had began to wear a little thin. We visited some friends and I noticed their towels were not as worn and tattered as ours. I felt inadequate thinking our towels did not measure up to the nice towels they had. Somehow I felt lesser of a person because of their towels, and other nice things they had. Jesus tells us, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33 NIV) Jesus has faithfully provided everything I have ever needed. This world is temporary and will some day pass away. The things we see, experience, and try to hold onto here will not last, unless Jesus is in them. At that time in my marriage, I wanted what I did not have. Jesus had another lesson for me later in life.
Later on and many years after I was married, during the latter years of my grandmother’s life, our family’s thoughts, energy and hearts turned to take care of her every need. Occasionally I would spend the night. The biggest blessing was going to church with her, after I spent the night, and listening to her sing hymns in the church I grew up in. Being in her upper 80’s and early 90’s, some of her towels had been around a while. Drying off on some of her well worn towels I felt much love. Her hands had to have touched those towels hundreds of times as she used them, washed them, dried them, and used them again. There never was a feeling of inadequacy using her towels. My focus turns to Jesus when I think of her. I never heard Mamaw complain about anything, except Papaw selling a car she had taken a liking to. She loved Jesus and loved serving her family. Somehow that love transferred to her towels. Drying off with her thinning and well worn towels was special. It’s as if you could feel her love with each swipe as water was dried from your skin.
Towels are a small thing we don’t give much thought to in life, except perhaps when we compare what we have to what others have. Desiring to have fluffy towels, like our friends, faded when using my grandma’s towel. Simple things in life can have a huge impact on our life, if we let ol’ Satan have a place in the things we think, say or do. Simple things in life can have a profound impact on our life, if the love of Jesus is on display. The love of Jesus, because of what He did for us, transforms the way we think, the things we say (even to ourself), and the things we do. (“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” -2 Corinthians 5:17)
Mamaw was unaware of the impact she was having on me as she went about her daily chore of taking care of the towels. She was discipling me about Jesus and probably never knew it. She lived out her faith for her family to see. Our love for Jesus is revealed in our lives.
Our granddaughter learned a lasting truth at VBS. From Creator to Defeater of Sin it is ‘All about Jesus’! Things in life can happen and unexpectedly our thoughts, words or actions take a downward turn and suddenly things can get out of focus. In our worries and inadequacies, as I was when towels seemed important, it is the love of Jesus that moves hearts and transforms lives. It’s not the quality of the towel, but the quality of the heart. It truly is ALL about Jesus!!
