Angela

My 5 month old son has a best friend. It is Angela, and that’s not a person. It’s a toy, a rattle, with now faded and invisible eyes and a nose. His aunt named it Angela. Whenever he looks at it, he breaks into this beaming, toothless heart melting smile, irrespective of his mood or circumstance. It is worth watching when he smiles even in between his cries when he sees his friend.

I was wondering what was making him smile like that at a toy! What was so special about this silly toy that he found it so fascinating! I couldn’t get an answer. But I learnt that this was what Paul must have meant when he wrote to the believers in Philippi to rejoice in the Lord always. Irrespective of whether I am joyful or sorrowful or tensed or stressed, when I look at my Savior and Friend, my heart should be filled with joy and gladness. But unlike my son’s smile, this joy is not without reason : Jesus Christ gave Himself a ransom on the cross, carrying all my sins, to save me and give me eternal life! Not only that, He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me.

“What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear

And what a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer”