John 17:10

John 17:10 Everything mine is yours, and yours mine. (The Message)

Jesus was praying for his followers when he said those words. The same concept goes for us - everything we have belongs to Christ and everything he has belongs to us. Sharing.

Two year olds do not share willingly as a rule. I have noticed Jacob and Natalee using the word 'mine' a lot lately. No one taught them to say it or how to use it, they just know. They also can be rather territorial when it comes to 'their' things (rain boots, special animals etc). Then again, sometimes one of them will find the other's cup or animal and give it to the other using the words, 'here you go' and sometimes it can even be one of their own crackers they share with the other.

Teaching a two year old to share isn't easy. It's a job where you have to be consistent, patient and willing to spend the time. But when I see these babies sharing on their own, I find it amazing to watch because I see they really care for each other.

Sharing isn't just with inanimate objects either. Sharing is also the giving of yourself. Once when we were traveling in Florida, we came upon a young man who had been hit by a car while he was crossing a major road on his bike. His body was covered with a blanket and only his feet were showing. As we were driving by, Rebecca wanted to stop and pray for him. She was only 12 or 13 and I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if it was appropriate to stop and pray or if it was, would they let us. We decided not to even try to stop because of the traffic, police, fire and rescue, but would pray for him when we got back to the in laws. It gave us a little more time to think about how we should pray because we knew this boy was dead and his parents
had no idea of what they were going to be told.

Sometimes we have to learn to share (us or our things) the way two year olds do and need to be reminded over and over again. Jesus gave himself to us and died on the cross for us. Don't you find it amazing that he gave up his life so we could be saved? The ultimate sacrifice.

What can we give to him?

Nancy