Jesus and Cake

A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor of doing a funeral for the four-year-olds enrolled in the Calvary Childcare program.  You see, their tadpole, Shamus,  that they had been watching to grow over the past few months, died.  When Miss Margaret asked the children what they should do, several of the children suggested that they needed a “priest” and they needed to “do a funeral.” 

So, Miss Margaret and one of the four-year-olds, came up to find a pastor.  Now, as a pastor, I’m often asked to officiate at funerals and memorial services, but this was the first time that I’d ever been asked, by an insistent four-year-old little boy, that my services as a pastor were needed for a tadpole. 

After agreeing to do it, I was trying to think of how to make this “funeral” a learning experience for the children.  So, we talked about what happens at funerals.  There is Scripture, eulogies and prayers.  After we talked about each part and went through it in a way that children would understand, one little girl raised her hand and wanted to know when we were having cake!  You've got to love the honesty of children! 

This little girl had been to a few funerals and knew that after the service we all gather together for a time of fellowship and food or as she put it, “Cake!” 

Reflecting on that experience, I got the biggest chuckle out of that one comment.  Yet, it was so profound.  Think about it for a minute – with Christ we always have an ongoing celebration.  We are given eternal life.  And, it is very fitting that we celebrate that wonderful gift and that we do indeed eat “cake!”  Cake is a good thing, but eternal life even trumps cake!  Celebrate we shall!  So, the next time you attend a funeral or memorial service, remember, Jesus died for us and because of that our sins are wiped away and we have been given life eternal.  For that reason, we celebrate!

Last night was the beginning of Lent.  And as I drove home from church after our Ash Wednesday services, the snow was gently falling and it made all the dirty messy grass areas look so beautiful.  That’s what Jesus did for us – He wiped away our sin and made us white as snow.  He made us beautiful and acceptable to God.

During this Lenten period, I pray that our hearts are truly open to receive and experience the real depth of God’s love for us.  None of us are worthy, but when we confess our sins, God forgives us.  We are white as freshly fallen snow. 

Here’s a song by Sara Groves from our Ash Wednesday services that reminds us that God touches the hearts of every generation, and that we need to pass on the blessings of God to our children and those who come after us.

To His Glory!

Pastor Carol