We should have bought stock in Kimberly-Clark. This week’s Kleenex use could have upped our dividends.

Sniffling, sneezing and snotting are the reasons for pink noses, chapped cheeks and lots of crying. Although we’re faithfully laundering dish rags and face cloths, our current disease is spreading.

Those of us over the age of accountability eagerly look forward to 8:00 pm each day when all the small fry are tucked into bed. That’s when we gather in front of the fireplace with our simple meals to have adult conversation. Ahhhh.

Tonight talk turned to Scripture and the voice of Jesus who challenged his disciples to “change and become like little children” if they wanted to enter the kingdom of heaven. These strong words were his response to their question of who would be highly ranked in heaven. Jesus elaborated (in a dozen verses) on how important it was to become like children, little ones, if they wanted to be saved.

What did he mean?

Today we watched five little children being childlike, which translated to making endless demands and crying incessantly. How do we jive this with what Jesus said?

In our discussion tonight, we concluded he must have meant we’re to have childlike faith in him. And all the sadness and crying of five sick little people is, surprisingly, a good example of this. Skylar, Nicholas, Micah, Evelyn and Thomas are all needy, completely helpless on their own. They can’t accomplish anything without the rest of us.

So they call to us to save them from their misery, acknowledging their need in the process. Jesus was saying, “Notice that. They have faith in you. They trust you. They’re completely dependent on you. That’s exactly where you ought to be in relation to Me.”

But there’s more to it than that:

• Young children look to their parents as God-substitutes, the model standard of what’s right and wrong. If mothers and fathers are trustworthy, sons and daughters can more easily trust a heavenly father when the time comes for a faith of their own.
• Our babies know we’ll do our best to help them in their health crises, because they believe we can and will. In the same way, we ought to have faith in God to help us through our troubles, being absolutely certain he can and will. Just as children take everything literally, the Lord wants us to believe in him that way, too, literally to trust him with our lives.
• Jesus’ comments were not an attempt to elevate children but rather a challenge for his disciples to lower themselves to the humble state of young children (who had no rights in those days). In doing so, they’d become fit for his kingdom, even to becoming the greatest.
• Our five ailing babies are surrounded by the true love of their parents and also the rest of us. When we help, they warm to our care. God’s heart beats even more passionately toward us, and he rushes to our aid with love beyond our understanding, hoping we’ll warm to his activity in our lives.

And on that note, I’d better check our Kleenex inventory.

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)

A child has been born—for us! The gift of a Son—for us! His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father,  Prince of Wholeness. (Isaiah 9:6, The Message)

May God bless you as you celebrate his coming. With love, The Nyman Family

When I heard all 15 of our family members were coming for Christmas, I was hot on the idea. I donned my red holiday collar and did my best tail-wagging when each arrived.

But now that we’re together, I’m beginning to cool on the whole thing. Actually I lost my cool entirely this morning when two of the babies used me as a climbing wall. I erupted with a growl that surprised even me, and although I didn’t hurt anyone, I was soundly reprimanded.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the little ones. Mealtimes are extremely rewarding with babies on the guest list. I plant myself near their three high chairs and patiently wait for droppings. As soon as eating begins, rich bounty comes my way.

But the life Midge and I normally have has gone out the window, partly because of the crowd under our roof but partly because we’re literally getting new windows installed this week. That’s right. The old windows are being pried out (with loud crow bars and electronic saws) and new ones are being put in (with loud banging and electronic hammers).

Naps are interrupted and the house gets cold, but Midge told me it’s the best Christmas present she could receive this year. I know the old windows have been cloudy and drafty, but the main reason she’s so hot on new ones is that Pidge was the one who gave them to her. Since he’s been gone for over a year, this gift is extra special.

During these days of way too much noise and activity, I’ve done my best to be adorable and accommodating, but one dog can only do so much. And it’s not like my life hasn’t been altered, too. Daily walks to the beach with Midge have disappeared, and Nelson takes me now. I’m just glad he’s thinking of my needs, because Midge is paying far more attention to the little people than to me.

I spend much of my day looking for her and sometimes can’t find her at all. Someone else is sleeping in her bedroom, and other people are driving her car.

Today the kids all went sledding. These are young children who’ve never done it before, three from England and two from Florida. Because our street is covered with icy snow, the sleds flew along at quite a clip, giving the kids a thrill and prompting parental videos. I love the cold and warmed up to the sliding fun, running alongside. But when I tried to grab the sleds between my teeth, I got yelled at.

Sometimes I wish I wasn’t the favorite animal of two toddlers, two crawlers and one hair-twister. But then there’s tonight when my heart grew so warm, it melted. Skylar was making the rounds to say good night and stopped to talk to me. Although I was lying down (worn out from a day of trying to avoid babies), she got down on her tummy, nose-to-nose with me, and lovingly said, “Good night, Jackie. You’re a very good boy.”

Swoon.

Did I mention I was really hot on the idea of having our whole family together this Christmas?

“Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:7)