Seeing Christ

As I walked out on the beach yesterday I saw Christ- flesh and bone- sitting, running, playing in the waves. He was screaming, “Sara! Sara!” With His big brown eyes and running up to give me a hug. He was saying, “Oh, please PLEASE teach me how to swim!” He then proceeded to lose His attention and ran to sit on the ocean letting the water wash over His legs and take His little body every which direction. He was sitting in the shade enjoying the few free peaceful moments away from the 7 beautiful little girls that. He cares for everyday.

As I walked away from the beach, again, there He was. He was bored and tranquil on a Sunday afternoon saying, “Sara! Take us to the park” “NO! Take us to the beach!” “No! Let’s make bracelets!” Jesus (All 6 beautiful faces of His) decided He wanted to make bracelets. As we walked to get the supplies, He pulled and tugged on my clothes trying to gain my full attention- which is hard to do when He is 6 different people. Jesus sat patiently (for a moment or two) as I tried to explain how to make a bracelet. He very quickly became restless and decided to try it His own way. The beads spilled everywhere and I helped Him pick them up. Sometimes, Jesus has learning disabilities and can’t always understand thing like how to make a bracelet, so He sits happily, watching His friends make them instead. Every time someone acknowledges Him when He is like this, He responds with a giant grin that could light up the whole world. When Jesus finishes making His bracelet, He is very proud of His work and says, “Sara! Sara! LOOK!” He likes to scream it in my ear with a big smile on His face.

I saw Him again in a different form. I was very nervous, as it was my first day shadowing for my new job as middle school Math teacher. Jesus was sitting in class, looking quite intimidating, waiting to form an opinion about His new teacher. He got incredibly angry when the teacher called Him out for talking. He didn’t really want to do any work and was often heard saying, “Teacher! I don’t WANT to!” Many times He wouldn’t say anything and would just stare with blank eyes at the teacher. Jesus was difficult and frustrating. I found Him much harder to love in this form… but in the end my love meant more, because it caused me to actively love.
“I have found the paradox that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love”