blessings for the little ones in our lives, blessings for the weak & vulnerable

DEVOTIONAL READING
Jesus Loves Me
"Jesus loves me! This I know, 
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so."

Acts 20, Verse 35, "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

Psalm 78, Verses 1-8, "1 Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, 3 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. 4 We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. 5 For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children, 6 That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, 7 That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments, 8 And not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart And whose spirit was not faithful to God."

DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE
Today my nephew goes into surgery before the age of two. It frightens me how vulnerable he is and I get butterflies in my stomach just thinking about how fragile he is and this upcoming operation. Yet he embarks through life as though he is on a mission everyday, mostly invincible. Little ones do not make me feel invincible but remind me of the fragility of my own life and others. "Jesus Loves Me" has a very simple message - children because they are vulnerable are loved by God. The Bible often refers to God as the Father and all of us as His children. He cares for us in a way that a parent should, and He teaches us not only through the example of Jesus but also with tough love and discipline through the events of our life. I believe the reason it is more blessed to give then to receive is because the world is in such need and the weak/vulnerable are high in number; out of necessity Christians must be givers. Out of necessity also we must rear our little ones in the words and ways of the Lord. Generation after generation things are passed down - any generation can renew itself back to Godly ways, yet it can be difficult if we don't have that upbringing. The weak and vulnerable, especially young ones rely on the elders to love, protect and coach them in the same way the Father does for us. Every generation is in part rebellious to God and stubborn in pursing man's ways in place of God's ways.
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DEVOTIONAL PRAYER
Dear God, I pray for my nephew Oscar today as he goes under the doctor's care for surgery today. Since I am without children his welfare is especially important to me. I also pray in general for moms, aunts, sisters and grandmothers who influence the lives of vulnerable little souls. May the world prepare the way for a new Godly generation; mature souls must pass along the wisdom of God. Our world today is in desperate need of more givers and teachers in the Christian doctrine. People often forget their blessings come from roots planted generations ago. For those that have strayed from the faith or been given little opportunity to know your commandments I ask for a blessing upon them - maybe a giver will enter their lives and bring them along. Remind us that we are all Your children. In Jesus name. Amen.