Abby's Journey Archive

We are continuing with regular activities and are so thankful for every day we have to spend together. Abby got to celebrate her birthday along with Daniel at an indoor bouncing gym yesterday. She was so determined to try out all the activities that seemed a little "scary" to her with her limitations. At first, she was terrified, but she didn't give up and, with the help of Jesus and her dad, she conquered her fears and had a great time.

On October 1st we remembered the birthday of Abby's cousin, Kristin who went to be with Jesus in December of 2000. My thoughts were on Kristin a lot the week of her birthday and I wanted to share why. That particular week our church had us studying the following passage from Luke 15:1-10.

1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such despicable people even eating with them! 3 So Jesus used this illustration: 4 "If you had one hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it? 5 And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders. 6 When you arrived, you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found. 7 In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away! 8 "Or suppose a woman has ten valuable silver coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and look in every corner of the house and sweep every nook and cranny until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her because she has found her lost coin. 10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents."

As I was studying this passage with our kids, they were drawing pictures and acting out what the "heavenly rejoicing" might look like. It occurred to me that all those who are in heaven with Jesus and His angels are probably participating in these great parties...including our dear Kristin! What a wonderful priviledge to join all of heaven rejoicing because one of God's lost has returned to Him. Some day we will join the rejoicing and what a wonderful day that will be!

For anyone interested in hearing more about Kristin's story, please feel free to visit her website at http://kksmith.net/