family life

The children of P5 were over with us today. It was great.

They've really enjoyed these classes we've had: and I think they actually felt a bit sad that today's would be the last. Meanwhile, anyway.

Today was a chance to show them round the inside of the building and let them see why things are as they are and what they're called. It's always great to have that opportunity to ... well, explain to them the message I've been teaching them these last few weeks.

The person: and the event. Simple. And all summed up in those three easy words - Jesus is Lord!

It doesn't matter what's the starting point - it's great to take folk back to this. The person and the event. What Paul did in Athens. And what I was able to do again today.

Starting with the buildings and the way it's all laid out, it all points back to what it's all about - this one amazing person, Jesus Christ and his rising from the dead. I think they got the picture!

We gave them juice and biscuits in the Hall afterwards. They love that sort of thing. We sat them down and let them watch the DVD of the Holiday Club we held here back in April. Since it featured some of them as well, they loved it, thought it was hilarious in parts and simply roared delight! What a lovely thing to see!

But there's no gain without pain, so they say. And the pain today was borne by my Mum who got rushed off into hospital with acute and intolerable pain.

My sister's up from Wales this week, so she got the trip in the ambulance as well. I joined her in the hospital and spent pretty much the rest of the day there.

The staff were great. Run off their feet half the time. But great with it. Helpful, thoughtful, always re-assuring and good to have around. Relationships are everything!

My Mum got shifted to the Royal late on. The specialists are there and they're best placed to treat her with the symptoms and condition that she has.

It's hard to sit and watch such pain, I have to say. To sit and watch and not be all that able to do much in terms of easing all the pain.

Except, of course, to pray. And, reflecting on the day, it seemed to me so much of how her needs were being addressed was very much in answer to such prayer. The hand of God upon her in her need. Sustaining and enabling her through what's a very scary time.

She kept insisting that we must have other things to do and hardly would be wanting to be there with her. But where would a son and daughter rather be than by their mother's side when she's in need? Isn't that what family's all about?

Which brings me back to where the day began. The message that I'm trying to get across is in the end relational - and not a merely intellectual thing. I want these children all to come to know, relationally, the Lord.

To know what it is to be part of his family. To know what it is to belong. And I think they got a feel of that again today.