Redemption Song

Bob Marley's hit was on my mind this morning. I was thinking that as a follower of Jesus I use the word redemption in my understanding of who I am and whose I am. However what is a practical, everyday example of redemption?

My son Ean is seven now, he just had his birthday. Last month he came home from a school fair. Much like every school fair, there were games that everyone played to win tickets. The tickets were turned in at the prize booth for a choice of prizes. If you are having trouble figuring it out, think Chuck E. Cheese but instead of new toys, this school takes donated toys, kind of like the island of misfit toys on Rudolph's Christmas special. Anyway Ean comes home with this doll.

I know, a doll baby carrying a doll baby. This is a boy that loves cars and balls and every stick he can get his hands on. So I say to him, "why did you pick out a doll?" He said matter-of-factly, she was lonely and no one wanted her so I bought her to give to Kelsey down the street (Kelsey is our three year old neighbor who is a regular at our house). He then went downstairs placed the baby doll in a gift bag and took it over to Kelsey, who of course loved her new doll baby.

I was in tears over my son's act of love. Love toward a doll that no one wanted. He redeemed this little doll that no one wanted and found her a home where she would be loved. The fact that he had empathy for a doll gives me hope. Hope that he will grow into a man who has compassion on all those whom he meets. Hope that he will be a part of a generation that will look to bind up the broken, lift up the downtrodden, find the lost and love those whom no one else will love.

I hope that this week we can follow my son's example. Find someone that no one else loves and love them. I hope that we can be a people who sing redemption songs daily into the lives of those who need them the most.

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost"

Jesus as recorded in Luke's Gospel chapter 19 verse 10

Peace

Edwin