Together
Carried by four of them (2:3)
The proverb, it takes a village to raise a child, is thought to originate in Nigeria. It refers to the idea that children acquire a rounded personality from safe interaction with lots of different people, and not just their parents. Bertrand Russell went one step further, suggesting to one correspondent that her biological parents were the worst people to bring her up as they would share her innate prejudices rather than lead her to question them. As a child my parents took me on Christian holidays on which they led. They were always busy and left me to my own devices, allowing me to get to know lots of very different people, all in an entirely safe environment. It was a taste of heaven that has never left me.
It took four men to carry the paralysed man to Jesus, maybe because they had only a sheet on which to bear him, but he had many more companions on the journey. It seems it takes a whole village to bring someone to Jesus so they can be made whole. Now that's worth remembering next time we wonder if we have anything to give to God. Just by being a friend we can help someone come to Christ.
Beautiful message George and lovely view. Thanks for that. Kathy
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's from the path off Golden Cap.
DeleteIt takes a whole village to bring someone to Jesus. This is a thought provoking comment, George. One that I shall ponder throughout Advent. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how the team who led those holidays were very different but all shared a simple love of Jesus and a commitment to the task of sharing Good News with young people. It was a great education in the wonderful and exciting variety of human character that God enables and blesses.
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