The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 2:41-47, “And His parents used to go to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;

43 and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. And His parents were unaware of it, 44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

45 And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him. 46 And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.”

There is nothing so amazing as becoming the parent of a child! Surely, a mother is more conscious of this than anyone. Yet, all children are not alike! Some advance more rapidly than others. I can clearly recall the time when I became aware of my children’s intellectual growth. We were in Australia, sitting in our car, waiting for their mother. The subject of our discussion I have forgotten, but one of them said something that jolted my mind! “Where did that come from?” I remember thinking. And from that time onward, I noticed more closely their intellectual growth.

Despite the growing maturity of children, they often become so engrossed in things that they are unaware that they are lost their parents. That is precisely what occurred with Jesus. At the age of 12, He had become so focused on Jewish law that He forgot about His parents, who had departed for home. They supposed Him to have been with relatives. When they found Him, however, He was discussing weighty matters with rabbis in the Temple. And His wisdom and understanding astounded those who were recognized as experts in matters of religious law.

Never overlook the growth and maturity in others. Whoever you are and however intelligent you think we have become, there is always someone who knows more –someone whose insight into heavy matters is deeper than your own. No one, however, is wiser or smarter or more understanding of things than Jesus! His wisdom and knowledge is revealed in His Book, the Bible! Yes, His parents and His disciples walked physically with Him. They had the benefit of His first-hand knowledge of all things. But, they did not have the Bible as we now have it. Our advantage is at least equal, if not greater, in that all we need to know is encompassed in the His Word. Remember Isaiah 55:11. The Word of God in Holy Scripture embraces the power of its own accomplishments. Read it daily! Absorb it’s truth! There is no earthly match! Thus, whether you grow spiritually, depends largely on you.

We pray daily for your spiritual growth,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”