Terrific!

Last weekend I had the joy of taking my four and five year-old Sunday school class to the nursing home where we sang, recited a poem, and then my husband gave a short Bible challenge to a group of the residents.  Here the children are getting ready to sing.  Are they precious, or what?

While they were singing, one of the sweet female residents came in, and with each step she took closer to the children she said, “This is terrific! Terrific! Terrific! You’re terrific!  He’s terrific!”  Then she walked up to each child as she made her way down the line, cupped their face in her hands and said to each one, “Pretty, pretty, pretty!”  The children were so kind to her and weren’t afraid.  I think it was due to her sweet nature.  It was apparent that she was in this particular locked down area of the nursing home for a reason,  but I have to tell you, I have thought about that dear lady all week.  You know, some people grow old and crabby, but this sweet lady had obviously spent her life looking for things to praise, and now that she didn’t quite have all her mind, she was still in that same attitude!

While reading through Luke 15 this week I found over and over the words joy and rejoicing.  Verses 4/5 say, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 

Verse 7a –I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.

Verses 8, 9 say Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 

Verses 23, 24 add – Bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.


Heaven is a place of joy and rejoicing.  Jesus has joy and He came to give us joy.  He said in John 15: 11- These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. We may think we have reason to be downhearted today, but that’s not what Jesus wants for us!  Joy and rejoicing should be a part of every day for the believer.  If there’s nothing in your life to be joyful about, look to heaven and rejoice over sinners coming to Christ.  Rejoice in the birth of Christ.  Rejoice in the coming of our Savior – it will be soon!  Rejoice in the things around you that are “pretty, pretty, pretty!”  Encourage others by telling them how “terrific” they are!

The truth is, we will be what we have been becoming.  Will you and I be “little old ladies” of praise?  If so, we better be praising now.  Take a look around – things really are “terrific!”

With love,