August 4th, 2023

On the phone, Mom is gushing with childlike enthusiasm. Their motel room has a small table where she and Daddy can play Dominoes, and an in-room coffeemaker. After she bids me good-by I sit for a moment, holding the now silent telephone in my hand. I can’t help smiling at her excitement. I’ve stayed in enough no-name motels to know that the best of them leave much to be desired. Yet, Mom is as excited as a child on Christmas morning and that’s one of the things I love most about her.

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

— Matthew 18:3

Lord Jesus, deliver us from cynicism. Restore our childlike enthusiasm. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.