Luke 12:1-7 ~ you are of more value than many sparrows

 

Luke 12:1-7

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? 

And not one of them is forgotten before God. 

7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 

Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.



Charles Dickens was a profound writer  A philanthropist, interested in his culture, restoring women in harsh circumstances back to their feet to marriage and family. A non-traditionalist- traditionalist Dickens was praised by Leo Tolstoy and others as a great Christian writer.

Dickens has a philosophy the Scriptures agree with. He believed people are found in circles of people reflecting personal choices and also requiring guidance of an uplifting nature. People in Spiritual beliefs are to be the Light of Christ. His books believe lower acting people have circles as well encouraging what God would say are poor choices.

Dickens believed mankind could improve, by improving surroundings with Christian people. Dickens believed in Goodness.

Jesus would agree, He says He saw His people with compassion, seeing they need Him. They were sheep and required Him as Shepherd.




When I was a child, I had the best little neighborhood school. The motto of the School was,  "A student is not a vessel to be filled, but a lamp to be lighted."

We had Peacocks, Crabapple and Pear trees with fruit, chickens, a hill to stampede up and down. Later a pony and a barn. We had a hayloft and that was tremendously fun.

Ms. Sandy was our Principal and she delighted in the children. She was a frequent visitor to the classes. A large woman with joy in her eyes. A visit from Ms. Sandy was indeed entertaining. She was a very, very gifted and amusing educator. One day, in our 1st grade class, she asked us if we knew Beatle Mania. And the reply was all the first graders assuring Ms. Sandy - yes we knew "Beatle Mania." She brought in a 2nd grade boy, Andrew, and asked us if he was just like Paul McCartney. We yelled until our teacher, Ms. Reineke, held her ears. Andrew Loved the Attention. And to add to the screams - Andrew's 5th grade brother was the larger identical Andrew, and about 2 feet taller. More shrieking.

Miss Sandy would appear at the entrance and she would yell "Good Day... Ladies!!!" She would then pull in Andrew and we would Shhhhhhrrrriek. Ms. Reineke and the other teachers complained at the shrieking in Car Pool as Andrew and his brother would arrive from the car. The children loved that and we thought that was very funny.

About half way through the year, the teachers asked Ms. Sandy to get us to calm down. She came in and explained the teachers didn't want shrieking during classes. She asked us if we remembered she had started this with "Beetle Mania". Ms Sandy was always asking for discussion. We somehow managed to tell her, through her prompting, this was like a Rally. We enjoyed this soooo much. Ms. Sandy said yes, but life was about getting along and if the teachers were not happy with the interruption, we needed to respect this as a working place. And fun was to happen, but before classes, lunch and after classes. So we continued, with Ms. Sandy's enthusiasm, to yell for Andrew and his brother. Particularly with a flourish of a car door opening!

Christmas vacation came and we were back to school. Ms Sandy came in and said she had a very sad duty today but she needed to tell all classes about the school family and a very, very sad thing had occurred.  Our parents already knew about. She looked very sad, something we had not seen on Ms. Sandy before. She said we all knew Andrew and his brother. Over Christmas at Andrew's home, the doorbell had rung, the door was answered and the intruder was a home burglar. All four members of Andrew's family had been home and Andrew's parents had been shot with a large rifle and died in front of Andrew and his brother. Ms. Sandy said she had been in education for 40 years and this was the first time something like this had happened. In fact, all the adults did agree this is a very rare and sad thing. She said that Andrew and his brother, of course, wanted the school to know. They were living in their home, with a relative, and the people with the gun had been put in jail.

Ms. Sandy went on to say, don't scream at the boys right now. Don't tell them over and over how sorry you are, the boys know; just say hello. Look them in the eye and say hello. Let the boys lead the conversation. If the boys wanted to lead the conversation, be sure and listen. One child asked if we should pretend we did not know. Ms. Sandy responded, that was a very adult question, but, no, be honest and listen a lot. The child asked, "But we aren't allowed to say we are sorry?" Ms. Sandy said again, a very excellent question, that in the conversation - to say - "I'm sorry" at least once was acceptable. And to say, "This is so hurtful for you." Ms. Sandy said it was fine to say, "Your parents loved you very much." At that, the class wept.

A child in the back just sobbed. Ms. Sandy cried and wiped her eyes. She said, "The most sane reply to this sadness is tears. This was a very, very sad thing." Then she took the questions first graders would ask. Ms. Sandy offered again - this was so rare. And Ms. Reineke would answer the rest of our questions we would have for the next few weeks.


And the school became quieter. During car pool, we sometimes talked about all this.

About a month later, Ms. Sandy returned and asked if we still loved Andrew. Quietly everyone did agree. Ms. Sandy said Andrew might need a little cheering up and did we feel like cheering and yelling in a few minutes. We did agree. She was bringing Andrew back and he needed to know the School still adored him. She'd be back in about 15 minutes. She returned with Andrew. We yelled, more quietly, but still we were enthusiastic. Ms. Sandy told Andrew she'd asked everyone to be more quiet, but he could tell he was loved. He looked very emotional, not the confident, smiling boy of before. Ms. Sandy loved to hug and she hugged Andrew. Andrew looked overcome and Ms. Sandy said this is fine, this is normal, this is what we all understood. This is his school family, be yourself.



I adored Ms. Sandy. We all did. She was one of the most fantastic educators. She was a very large woman and she used her size to be part of her appeal. A good teacher uses all aspects of what is real, to make life better and brighter. She made her circle wider and wider being the Light of Christ.

Salt and Light.

Father God,

In all seasons, for Your reasons - "All things work together for good, for those who love the Lord and work according to His Purposes." We give You great thanks for our blessings. teaching and encouraging us to have the fire and grit and goodness to see us through the challenging times. Thank You, for those years ago, that young boy knew because of the good times, how much he was cared for.

Our Father, a mighty encourager. Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Thank God for His Goodness, providing us the tools to see us through. We will seek the Lord and his strength; seek Father God's presence continually! In the Joy of the Lord God, do not grow weary in doing good.

The one who endures to the end will be saved. You assure us, casting all your anxieties on Our God, because Our God cares for you.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †