FINALLY!
Yesterday we celebrated Hannah’s second-grade “Bible Ceremony” at church. Our seven-year-old, along with countless others, received her very own Adventure Bible in a poignant ceremony that magnified the true treasure of God’s Word. For Hannah, the ordained moment was long overdue.
My third-born has been waiting for her own “REAL” Bible since the day she could verbalize her wish. Though she’s been the proud owner of countless children’s Bibles, somewhere along the line she figured out that her Bible storybooks were “missing some words.” Thousands of words, to be exact.
I still remember the day of her indignant discovery. With a waggle of her hip and an appropriate measure of female drama, she’d stormed into the kitchen and plopped her children’s Bible next to the NIV study Bible sitting on the counter.
“My Bible is MISSING something!”
“What do you mean?” I asked above the clank and hum of the dishwasher.
“Just look for yourself!” Hannah had demanded, her face crimson with frustration. “Yours is SO MUCH BIGGER!”
I glanced at the two Bibles pressed side by side–one towering above the other- and I secretly suppressed a giggle. I calmly explained that Hannah’s Bible was filled with the same stories as mine, but my Bible just happened to have all of God’s words, while hers was filled with some of His favorite truths for children.
Unimpressed with my explanation of reading levels and kid-friendly content, she huffed away insulted. Later that evening, I assured Hannah that she could have her own “Big Bible” when she learned to read.
Unimpressed with my explanation of reading levels and kid-friendly content, she huffed away insulted. Later that evening, I assured Hannah that she could have her own “Big Bible” when she learned to read.
Not long after our kitchen theatrics, Hannah glued her bottom to the old leather chair and refused to leave until she had sounded out every word in Dr. Suess’s The Foot Book. As her Dad and I cheered and did a happy dance in celebration of our little girl’s first read-aloud, Hannah flashed us a smug smile. She slid from her chair, returned Dr. Suess’s classic to the bookshelf and asked, “So NOW can I have a Bible like yours?”
Her big sister happily passed on our dog-eared copy of the Beginning Readers Bible. But Hannah longed for a Bible of her very own.
Yesterday, her impatient wish finally came true. As she walked across the stage to receive her treasure, her blue eyes sparkled. She bowed her head reverently when an elder from our church placed a brand new Adventure Bible into her hands and tenderly prayed over my daughter. I battled tears and whispered humble thanks to the Lord. for placing in my little girl’s heart a GIANT love for the Word.
As I savored Hannah’s joy, a poignant scene from Prince Caspian, came to mind. In this excerpt from C.S. Lewis’s famed Narnia Chronicles, the children- Peter, Susan, Edward and Lucy- have finally returned to Narnia after a long absence. Aslan, the great king and lion, is nowhere to be seen. Lucy, the youngest of the children, longs to see him. One night she wakes to a great rustling in the forest, and to a voice calling her. While the other children sleep, Lucy prowls through the woods and into a clearing. There, she discovers that Aslan. But he has changed since their last encounter. Lewis writes:
A circle of grass, smooth as a lawn, met her eyes, with dark trees dancing all round it. And then- oh joy! For he was there: the huge Lion, shining white in the moonlight, with his huge black shadow underneath him.
But for the movement of his tail he might have been a stone lion, but Lucy never thought of that. She never stopped to think whether he was a friendly lion or not. She rushed to him. She felt her heart would burst if she lost a moment. And the net thing she knew was that she was kissing him and putting her arms as far round his neck as she could and burying her face in the beautiful rich silkiness of his mane.
“Aslan, Aslan. Dear Aslan,” sobbed Lucy. “At last.”
The great beast rolled over on his side so that Lucy fell, half sitting and half lying between his front paws. He bent forward and just touched her nose with his tongue. His warm breath came all round her. She gazed up into the large wise face.“Welcome, child,” he said.
“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”
“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.
“Not because you are?”
“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”
Hannah smiled large and hugged her new Bible to her chest as the ceremonial photographer captured the momentous occasion. Then we slipped behind the stage to complete the blessing stations that concluded the morning’s regalities. Flanked by those who love her most- parents and grandparents- my daughter slipped out of her rhinestone sandals and dunked her toes in a sturdy clay cistern. We kneeled, one after another, three generations of Christ-lovers, and we washed the feet that God would lead by the light of His Word.
Drops of hope trickled through my fingers as I finished my prayer. Dear Jesus, may YOU grow BIGGER every time Hannah opens the pages of your book. May she follow the lamp of your truth until the day her faith becomes sight, her feet leap on streets of gold, and the light of your Word becomes the radiance of glory. AMEN.
The Overflow: Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. –Psalm 119:105
I love this story! It screams Hannah…she is one special girl…who has always loved the Lord! Your an amazing mom!