We all need a little Jesus…

I follow a pastor from a small town in South Carolina on Facebook and Instagram. He popped up on my feed one day, and it was like a lightning strike to my spirit. I felt an immediate connection to him and the message he was sharing, so of course I hit that follow button. I mean, this man was saying exactly what I needed to hear at the moment I needed it the most.

One day, this video pops up, and he’s holding a little Jesus figurine. His church youth group had hidden these tiny plastic Jesus figures all over the place to remind people that Jesus is everywhere. I loved it! I immediately called my sister and said, “we’ve gotta do this!” Well, God had other plans for what we had to do, and unfortunately little Jesus just wasn’t at the top of the list. We lost Mom a few days after I saw that video, and planning a funeral and adjusting to a new way of life without her took up a significant chunk of time. Little Jesus had to wait.

Now let me tell you, God’s plan is perfect, and His timing is impeccable. Our first holiday without Mom was Easter. Ha. New life without my mom. How ironic. The Sunday before Easter, following a wonderful service at one of my favorite new churches, we gathered for cookies and fellowship. This very sweet woman, who I’ve come to know and adore, proceeds to tell us about the children’s sermon she has planned for Easter. She said she got the idea from a pastor she’d seen online, and my eyes lit up! Please tell me it was Pastor Brian Trent. Tell me you’re bringing little Jesus to town. I may have squealed when she said she was!! All week, I kept telling everyone that I couldn’t wait to go back to church on Sunday.

I woke up on Easter feeling like a kid at Christmas! The day was finally here. I thoroughly enjoy going to church, especially when my sister has the opportunity to sit in the pew next to me instead of behind the pulpit. She’s amazing at sharing God’s word, but sometimes I just want her next to me to hold my hand when we pray. We sat together, and believe me, I was trying to be as patient as I possibly could. I sat up tall when the children’s sermon began. I “eeeped” in joy when she pulled out the bag, and I’m not even embarrassed to tell you that I cried when this sweet little girl handed me my very own little Jesus. I held him in the palm of my hand for the rest of the service. I needed Him, and there He was.

That little Jesus lives on the dashboard of my car. He stands directly in front of my speedometer, watching me wherever the journey takes me. As Tyler Hubbard said, ” I just ride in the seat next to Jesus.” I find comfort knowing that He is in control.

Now little Jesus has been in my car for over a month, almost two months actually. I’ve got no intention of moving him. He belongs there. But, I just couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed a little Jesus at work. You see, I’ve got quite a collection of toys on my desk. Why? Because they make me happy! Sadly, I only had one little Jesus. Cue God’s perfect timing…my husband was ordering something for his computer from Amazon. “Babe, do you need anything? We can get free shipping on a $35 order.”. I didn’t even hesitate. I sent him the link to order a 50 piece little Jesus pack. Of course, he questioned me to make sure it wasn’t a joke. I told him that we have some outreach events coming up, and I actually needed them. After all, everybody needs a little Jesus!

Now I’ve got a little Jesus in my car, and a little Jesus on my desk. I’ve got a little Jesus in my purse, just in case. You never know when a little Jesus might come in handy. Maybe it’s silly, but it’s such a simple reminder that I’m never alone. God is always with me. In this crazy life, I really love that little reminder. Thank God 🙌🏻 I am loved. I am protected. I am worthy. I am enough. And so are you! ❤️