Getting in the Last Kiss

This is our Jantzen...the happiest mix of energy, giggles and tender heart all wrapped up in a very athletic, competitive, and crazy smart little whirlwind. He can wrestle his older brother to the ground because he is so strong...but he has the most sensitive heart and his pain shows in his face by alligator tears that fill his huge brown eyes and slide slowly down his cheeks... no screaming, no yelling, just big drops of tears.

His command of the English language at 4 years old is quite impressive and you might think twice about sitting down to play Mario Kart or Wii with him because he is in it to WIN! He has amazing concentration and nothing, I MEAN NOTHING, distracts him in the middle of a race or Wii game.

Green blankie is a favorite friend and Jantzen's compassionate heart will share it with me if I am not feeling well..."The silky side makes you feel better, Honey, if you rub it on your cheek".

He also loves Band-aids...especially camouflage ones. At any point in time he could be sporting one on each arm, leg and several fingers. Last night, as I was putting pajamas on him I noticed a Band-Aid on the front of his pajama top. After he had it on, it was clear that the Band-aid was strategically placed over his heart. I asked why he had a Band-aid on his pajama top. "Because, Honey, somebody hurt my feelings one time and it just bwoke my heart...my heart needed a Band-aid".


Although I could go on all day about my little guy...there is something about Jantzen that warms my heart every time I see it. He convicts me.

As you can see...Jantzen is quite the kisser!!

He will plant big, long kisses on our cheeks, our hands, our legs, our arms, anywhere he can reach...sometimes even after we are out the door, he will come running to give even more kisses. His brother Jaxson is the same way...But JANTZEN has something special about his kisses...He HAS to be the last one to kiss you. If you kiss Jantzen, he will kiss you back ten-fold, and if you kiss him again, he will kiss you back twenty fold. He has to get the last kiss in. He will even count while he kisses to make sure he gives you more than anyone else.

Jantzen showers kisses on us...be careful not to kiss back too many times or you will be there all day.

The Lord convicted me one day after leaving my little Jantzy, all covered in kisses I might add. I was thanking the Lord for him as I drove home and for his special little quirk of having to get the last kiss. I was smiling to myself as I heard the Lord say to my spirit, "Oh I love that too, daughter...it is sooo much sweeter to have the last kiss than to have the last word, isn't it?"

Tears stung my eyes as I remembered so many times I have tried to get the last word with something. I have even gone so far as to have the last word with God. I pled with the Lord to remind me in the future, and to give me a picture of Jantzen getting in the last kiss whenever I feel the urge to get in the last word. He has already answered my prayer several times.

And then...so so sweet He was to remind me that Jantzen is a picture of my Jesus and His love. Showers of blessings and kisses, each one sweeter than the last.

The Greek word for "worship" means to "kiss forward". And how sweet to be reminded that no matter how many times I "kiss forward" to my King...He kisses back, tenfold...no twentyfold...exceedingly, abundantly...more than I could ever hope or imagine.

Thank you Jantzen for being a picture of Jesus to me.

No matter how much you want the last word...why not try giving the last kiss...but remember...no matter how many kisses you give...Jesus always kisses more - PASS THE WORD.


"The lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting..." Ps. 103:17

Through Little Eyes

According to my now 6 year old grandson, there is only one way to set up a nativity scene. I had no idea I had been doing it so wrong for so many years. How good of God to use a child to open my eyes.

Some of you might think, as I once did, of arranging the characters from the manger scene in elaborate fashion, always, of course, the baby Jesus with his parents in the middle. Sometimes I have had the wise men coming off in a distance (since they arrived so late!), sometimes the shepherds and sheep off to the side as if coming down the hill to see the new baby. I even used to have a fireplace with stones that randomly jutted out which were perfect ledges on which to place angels announcing the birth.

One fine December day when Jaxson was almost 4 years old, he bounded into my house with glorious stories of all the fun at his house…Christmas trees, manger scenes, cookies, special ornaments. His words were tripping over themselves so quickly he could not get them out fast enough! And then, in the middle of a sentence…complete quiet. He stopped…he looked at me with puzzling brown eyes and said, “Honey, your “activity scene” is not finished! Here, I will do it for you!”

Gently, little fingers moved my wooden characters around, and when he was finished, I could not believe I had ever set my “activity scene” up any other way.

No one was far off, or set to the side, or on a ledge. All, and I mean all, were crowding so closely to each other as if to get as close to the baby as absolutely possible without hurting him. Shepherds huddled next to kings, sheep huddled next to camels, angels gathered as closely as possible and every eye, animal, human, angelic, every eye on Jesus.

Every Christmas I am reminded of one of my most life-changing lessons, taught to me by a 4 year old.


THE ONLY WAY TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS, AND EVERY OTHER DAY OF THE YEAR, IS ARM AND ARM WITH ALL OF CREATION, EACH OF US TRYING TO GET AS CLOSE AS WE CAN, SO THAT OUR EYES ARE FIXED ON THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THE POWER TO SAVE US FROM OURSELVES.

As we go about this busy season, it is my prayer that we are all reminded that when things get busy, or chaotic, or go unfinished…maybe we need to do what Jaxson said, and fix our “activity scene”.

ALL EYES ON JESUS, on the day we celebrate His birth…and every day after until He comes to take us home.

All eyes on Jesus...Pass The Word...