Daily Devotions and Podcasts

SCRIPTURE Matthew 19:14 NKJV But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” WORDS OF HOPE The Wisdom of a Child Most people would say that Tabitha was too young to understand. She was three, and a three-year-old is not expected to understand the hardness of life yet. Tabitha’s mother was a single parent who worked three jobs just to afford the daycare and a small apartment in the ghetto. Every day, despite the five hours of sleep on weekdays and seven hours of sleep on weekends, Tabitha’s mother woke up tired. The only toy that Tabitha had to play with was an old brown baby doll. Her mother was embarrassed that she could not get her a real toy and not some mud-stained doll with tears on the fringes of its dress. Yet even though the makeup on the doll was fading and one could hardly make out its smile anymore, Tabitha loved the doll so much that her mother could not tell whether Tabitha knew it was not a real baby. Tabitha liked to hold the baby doll close to her little chest and sing it the same lullaby her mother sang to her. Then, she would tuck the doll into bed, whisper, “I love you baby,” and kiss it on the forehead before getting tucked into bed herself. That Christmas, Tabitha’s mother had planned something very special. She had saved up enough money to get her daughter a beautiful new doll. It was the best that money could buy and could easily be mistaken for a real baby from a distance. When Christmastime came around, Tabitha woke up and immediately looked for her baby, but she could not find it anywhere. Her mother was holding the new doll in shiny apple red wrapping paper. “Here’s your baby!” she explained and handed the present to her daughter. Tabitha eagerly unwrapped her gift, but when she saw that the doll was not the same doll that she had tucked into bed every night for a year, she was confused.  With tears in her eyes, Tabitha started pleading for her baby. Confused, her mom began to wonder where she went wrong. That was when she searched her heart and came to a conclusion. How would she feel if someone took Tabitha away and tried to give her someone else, telling her that this little girl was better? She went to the closet and pulled out Tabitha’s old torn doll and gave it back to her. Again, Tabitha held her baby doll close to her chest, and with joy in her heart, sang mommy’s favorite lullaby. In the end, Tabitha’s mother just laughed realizing that at some point she began measuring worth, something her daughter had not yet learned to do...and perhaps, it was Tabitha who really understood all along. PRAYER Loving God, Teach us that joy is valuable but does not have to be expensive. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Jonathon McClellan Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

SCRIPTURE 1 Peter 3:8-12 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. For: “Those who desire to love life and to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit; let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and God’s ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” WORDS OF HOPE The words of Peter in the above passage are particularly poignant today. Today is often referred to as Native American Rights Day. On this day in history, May 12, 1879, the landmark case Standing Bear v. Crook granted Native Americans civil rights under U.S. law. This particular case involved the movement of Native Americans by the federal government. Essentially it had been ruled that Standing Bear did not enjoy the rights of American citizens. He had applied for writ of habeas corpus and had been denied based on his lack of rights. The court ruled in his favor, and he was granted the writ of habeas corpus. So, while we celebrate Native Americans generally in September and October, this date is particularly significant. It is a simple truth that the Native American peoples have always been treated as savages, and totally unworthy of being considered equal, since the arrival of Europeans. Indeed, for a long part of American history, what was done to Native Americans by Europeans has no name other than genocide. The idea of Manifest Destiny, that Europeans were intended by God to spread across the North American continent is still around as part of the outlook of Christian Nationalists. That somehow Europeans have been granted by God, special privileges is a part of both of those philosophies. Those who hold those beliefs would do well to reread Peter’s words. It is a simple fact that the colonizers of the Americas did not show love, did not keep their tongues from evil, did not seek peace and pursue peace. And we still don’t. PRAYER God of all people, help us to live into the words of Peter sent through him by Jesus. Help us to see that all people are entitled to the love, respect, and peace that you wish all your Creation to enjoy. Help us to be instruments of your love and peace. Bring your blessings upon all. DEVOTION AUTHOR  Weber Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare