Shout Hosanna!

Almost 2000 years ago, the people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus into their town with palms.  In 2013, the Wahl family welcomed little Jillian Jo into this world with palms.

Our three children were born on Super Bowl Sunday, Ash Wednesday, and the day before Ascension Day (honestly, Kathy did not want to wait one more day for the last one).  Now we have a Palm Sunday grandchild.

Jillian Jo's parents called us early on Sunday morning to announce the news--news which was a bit unexpected since her due date was Good Friday.  (Side note--Palm Sunday is a far better day to be born than Good Friday.  Good job, Jillian.)  The Rochester grandparents could hardly constrain themselves to get to a Twin Cities hospital to see this new little life.

But there were some delays.  First were the gatherings of hundreds of people in two worship services who would literally sing hosannas to the Son of David.  Palms were raised and waved.  But there were two people whose minds might have been elsewhere, wanting to welcome a new daughter of God.

Another delay.  We were hosting the annual Palm Sunday family gathering.  The extended family is too involved in many churches to break away on Easter, so we gather a week early at our home--this year about twenty of us.  The food and conversation were marvelous.  But there were two whose minds might have been elsewhere.

Finally, we turned our backs on our guests and told them to shut the door on their way out--we were going to meet a new granddaughter!

There is no gift in this world like the gift of a new life.  Lungs breathe life-giving oxygen.  Hearts pump the life to all parts of a new body.  A little finger moves reflexively, if not by will.  Creation is amazing.

There is one gift nearly like new life.  That is new life in Christ, celebrated around the world in a few days.  Jillian Jo may live to be 100 years old--or more, with improving health care.  But there will be a certain end, at least on this earth.  Then that life promised by God in Christ bears full fruit.

I can see palms waving in heaven the day Jillian Jo arrives.  And I can imagine that God will be even more welcoming and proud than a grandfather.  Hosanna!

THEY GAVE NICKELS

A recent children's experience at worship offered three new pieces of grace.  Part of the Gospel reading for that day was the parable of the woman who has ten coins but loses one of them.  She searches diligently for the coin until she finds it and then rejoices with her neighbors!

From a location high above the chancel floor, I asked the children who had come forward for the children's word if they ever lose things, and how they feel when they find them.  When they responded with joy, I dropped coins from my high perch and asked the children to find them.  After all had found a coin, it was clear that they were rejoicing!

Grace note number one:  At the Saturday evening worship there were seven children.  I had thrown seven nickels onto the floor.  After the worship service, the assistant brought me the children's offering to secure.  Ordinarily there are a few dollar bills and a quarter or two on Saturday.  That night there were six nickels in addition to the normal offering.  I can only believe that six of the children decided it would be good to give the money back to the church.  What grace.

Grace note number two:  At the first service on Sunday, I was overwhelmed with children.  While I had 40 more nickels, about 40 children came up for the children's word.  They scrambled for the coins when I threw them.  It was holy chaos.  I confessed to the congregation that I would have to go looking for more money between services since I had used all I had.  On the way out of the sanctuary, a few people had coins in their hands, one man an entire hand full of coins.  I didn't have to go looking for coins at all.  People were generous.

Grace note number three:  The coins at the second Sunday service were not all nickels since they had been given to me.  As I threw coins this time, there was a mix.  One boy didn't seem to get any of the coins.  I had a dollar coin in my hand.  I flicked it down in front of him, and he rejoiced to find this coin--an entire dollar!  After worship his mother came to me and told me that the boy had decided that dollar would be his offering at the children's word.  The parents did not prompt him.  He was simply generous with what he had been given.

Oh, we might think that we give and give.  But we get more in return.  And we return some to the one who has given and continues to give us all good things.  We can learn from children who give nickels...and dollar coins.