Streams of Mercy

Last week, a young mother shared with me a pediatric nurse told her that her 18-month-old son should know how to point to his body parts when the word is spoken. “Could your children do that at 18 months?” she asked. As I’ve reflected on her question, I’ve come to remember that my children probably learned that skill in the Nursery Department of Sunday School.

“From my head down to my toes, God made me, ” they would sing…… “from my head down to my toes, my eyes, my ears, my nose! From my head down to my toes, God made me.” Other verses reminded them: “from my head down to my toes, God loves me; from my head down to my toes, God sends me and from my head down to my toes, God’s with me.” And there were other songs, “Oh, be careful little feet where you go……be careful little hands what you so……be careful little mouth what you say….be careful little ears, what you hear……….for your Father up above is looking down in love…..”

God’s children of all ages at Jackson Springs Presbyterian heard a wonderful message from another children’s favorite: “Hokey Pokey.” Putting first our left hand in, then our right hand in, we finally put our “whole self” in and remembered “that’s what it’s all about.” The smiles and knowing nods throughout the congregation affirmed the message had been received!

Verses from Psalm 139 served as our Call to Worship for the day. The message of this Psalm comes through words of relationship. It’s about our relationship with God and God’s relationship with us, what we do, where we are, even that we are – all are in the context of God’s loving provision and care. We see our very existence described in terms of the activity of God, in terms of who God is and in light of all God has done. The psalmist assures us that when we take off in all directions, and find ourselves in the best of times or in the worst of times, even there, wherever we find ourselves, God’s hand is leading us and God’s right hand holding us fast. (Psalm 139:10) Though we may not always feel God’s presence, hear God’s voice, or see God at work in our lives, we can rest assured that we are in God’s hands – strong and loving hands, that will never let us go!

I give thanks for heart knowledge of God’s loving care from day to day and for Nursey Class songs that planted that truth in my heart. I see now that these songs little ones sing about “body parts” also teach them the deeper truth of being a part of the Body of Christ, the church. “Let’s put our whole selves in and take our whole selves out … that’s what it’s all about!”

Elizabeth