Our two adult children have both passed the half century marker. I don’t need photographs to bring back memories of their infant or toddler stage. Though many years have passed; I often have family flash backs.
We lived in Chicago when our daughter April was an active one year old. Sunday was our day of worship. My husband Norm often carried April on his shoulders as we walked to the nearby store front-mission church. He also held her securely upon his shoulders on frequent trips to a corner convenience store.
We didn’t walk for the exercise; finding parking spots in the crowded city was always an issue. I think April preferred her daddy’s shoulders to a carseat.
“And so He told them this parable, saying, ‘What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the other ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance (Luke 15:3-7 NASB).”
I was lost. Jesus carried me home. He rejoiced!