Author: Pastor Ita Udoh
Jesus beckoned vigorously to the excited group of little boys and girls trailing behind him. As boisterous as any set of kids their age, and just as full of fun and pranks, the thirty or so youngsters ran up to the Man ahead. Two young ladies in white, obviously responsible for keeping any of these little urchins from straying away, followed casually behind. Ranging between the ages of one and a half to five years, and comprised of every tribe under the sun, they were the very picture of good health. Robust and rosy cheeked, depending on their complexion, they were the dream of any mother. In their multi coloured clothing of some impossibly soft material and beautifully crafted sandals, they were the sweetest picture of innocent cherubs an artist could conjure.
As they huddled around Jesus and their giggling and shrieks gradually died down, they gazed raptly and wide-eyed at their best Friend with an air of hushed expectancy. He had his index finger on His lips and a very exaggerated air of mystery in His eyes. “An apple for the person who holds his lips longest.” Thirty thumbs and index fingers immediately went to the lips of thirty very excited kids. Now their eyes were like saucers. He now had their attention. He continued in a hushed and conspiratorial voice. “You all remember the new little brother I said you would be welcoming soon?” Thirty heads nodded vigorously.
“Well, you were chosen because you have never welcomed anyone yet since you came. Now, this is what I want you to do. When he comes in with his guardian angel through that door, he’ll be looking around for just any familiar thing. Guess what will be the first thing that fits that description?” Again, thirty heads shook vigorously to the left and right. They knew that whenever Jesus asked a question, He would proffer an answer sooner or later. After surveying all their faces awhile with a twinkle in His eyes, He said, “The first thing he will be very happy to see will be other little boys and girls!”
By now, their eyes looked as if they would drop out of their sockets. “We will all sing him the welcome song and then.. His voice went mysterious again,
“And then…”
Some of the older, more excitable ones, almost started jumping. They knew that something very exciting always followed when Jesus said those two words in this tone of voice. Little squeals of excitement escaped from between mouths which were now mostly covered with two hands.
“And then …who wants to play with him?”
“ME!”
In unison, thirty very healthy kids tried to expel all the air in their lungs at once.
The shrieks of glee that followed must have been loud enough to catch the attention of the Father because the rumbling and flashing of thunder and lightning around the area of the Throne Room seemed to hold its breath for a second and a half. The kids jumped, clapped, ran around, rolled or chased each other all over the luxuriant grass and golden road they had been standing on. Passers by, human and angelic, looked in their direction with expressions ranging from slight bemusement to obvious empathic delight.
One such passer-by, a young man in his prime, waved vigorously at the still guffawing Jesus in the distance and got a wave back. His partner, a more recent arrival, had a slightly surprised expression on his face. He was still trying to get accustomed to this place where spontaneous joy seemed to spring from innumerable sources. His companion’s wide grin and the dreamy look that came over his eyes seemed to reflect a particularly special affection for the scene being enacted in the distance.
“He just loves to do this. Seems to be one of our Lord’s few addictions.”
“What? What was that?” his newer companion asked.
“Oh, the Lord always comes to the gate with some kids and welcomes every new child that just left earth for heaven.”
Again, that faraway look came into his eyes as he continued:
“I had such a reception when I came here a while ago. It almost seems but a few months ago when a little boy of about two commenced his heavenly life. Now I’m in my prime, like our Lord Himself. The Lord in His inscrutable and infinitely wise way allowed me early access into this lovely place. The reasons are still unfolding constantly and it just makes me love Him more and more. When both of my parents arrived in quick succession, they were so full of gratitude at just the part they were permitted to know. It seemed the greatest honour to them that one of their children would be so important to our Lords workings. And you know something, the reasons seem unending. And I mean that literally. The Lord showed some of us the other day that a number of us that came home early in life, were supposed to comprise a select group of a hundred and forty four thousand who would be his personal guard in His Kingdom’s full manifestation on earth.
Then with a grin and wry smile on his face, he added,
“Seems the only way we could meet the very strict qualifications was by our being conscripted at a very tender age!”
Rousing himself out of his reverie, he put an avuncular arm around his intently attentive companion and said,
“Well, as you earthlings say, all’s well that ends well. Abi?”
They both laughed uproariously as they continued their walk. His friend said, “It seems you use the language of earth more than those of us that even lived with it for years.” The other replied, “I believe in preparation O.”
They laughed some more at that last one.
“With having to dictate policy on earth, you better know how to communicate effectively. I learnt that from one of our courses.
“My earthly father can’t still grasp the idea of school in heaven. I think earthlings would find it easier to understand if they knew that every interaction with anything outside of us amounts to some kind of education. Therefore, from the input of a couple that was childless on earth but allowed to parent me here, to that of angelic and human tutors that taught me on matters of the physical universe, I became what I am today. Did you guys study that kind of stuff?”
Their voices trailed off as the obviously academic minded fellow barraged his friend with questions and expounded on varied issues, all the while gesticulating with an intent look on his face.
Back near the gate, the youngsters were in various stages of finishing their apples.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Sizzling Sunday: 7th September 2025
Sizzling Sunday 158
Previous post
Next post
