Manna and Coffee

I love my friends. I was catching up with a dear friend who lives in Europe this morning, who introduced me to a new phrase; well chuffed. Well chuffed means very delighted, happy or proud. It makes my heart smile to know that my friends are well chuffed.

I believe that Jesus was well chuffed and that He wants all of His brothers and sisters to be well chuffed too. In John 10:10 Jesus said, “The thief comes only to kill steal and destroy; I have come come so they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Do I need to convince you, after living through 2020, that there is a very real enemy who stands in the way of a well chuffed life? Misery likes company and Satan and his gnarly crew will do anything they can to separate us from our Heavenly Father and from one another. His goal is to bring despair into our lives, and to keep us away from living the hopeful, joy-filled, abundant life that God desires for each one of His children.

This past month my wife and I have been teaching together in our church preschool. What a joy! I think that Jesus knew that one sure way to discover the well chuffed life is to hang out with children. The Bible tells us that the disciples didn’t understand the importance of children, and they tried to keep children from bothering their Rabbi who had things to do and people to see. Jesus told them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14).

If you know anything at all about children, they do not judge. They love to laugh, learn, run and play. They really don’t care what you look like, how much money you have, what your profession is or the mistakes that you have made over the course of your life. They accept all naturally, which is why it is important to protect these dear little ones from the forces of evil in the world. I have had to choke back tears on several occasions when a new shy little girl has come into our room and immediately went over to my wife to sit on her lap when she was reading a book about the Bible to our little friends. I have watched these shy little children warm up and bloom by the end of the hour and laugh, learn, run and play. Even the thought of this makes me tear up while I’m typing this and makes me feel very well chuffed.

This past Sunday my wife and I were commenting on the beautiful braids that one of the little girls had in her hair. I joked with the little girl and said, “Mr. Len can’t braid his hair anymore because all his hair fell out on his pillow.” The little girl first looked concerned and then her concerned expression morphed into a little smile. With her eyes focused on my bald head, she asked me, “Is there a hair fairy?” Without hesitation I replied, “I sure wish that there was friend, because Mr. Len would be rich!” to which we both belly rolled.

Are you well chuffed this morning? If not why not? If you are not feeling well chuffed maybe you are focusing on the wrong things. Maybe you need to be more like a child and you just need to run to Jesus and sit with him in prayer. It’s not complicated friends. Here are the words to a song that we would all do well to remember and sing when life seems scary and hopeless. It is a choice each day if we want to run with the chuff-killer or walk with Jesus.

Jesus Loves me, this I know 
 For the Bible tells me so 
 Little ones to Him belongs 
 They are weak but He is strong 
 

 Yes, Jesus loves me 
 Yes, Jesus loves me 
 Yes, Jesus loves me 
 The Bible tells me so 
 

 Jesus loves me, He who died 
 Heaven's gate to open wide 
 He will wash away my sin 
 Let His little child come in 
 

 Yes, Jesus loves me 
 Yes, Jesus loves me 
 Yes, Jesus loves me 
 The Bible tells me so 
 

 Jesus, take this heart of mine 
 Make it pure and holy Thine 
 On the cross, You died for me 
 I will try to live for Thee 
 

 Yes, Jesus loves me 
 Yes, Jesus loves me 
 Yes, Jesus loves me 
 The Bible tells me so