Thought of the Week: Share good news of Jesus with others in your life

I recently spent some time with my great-niece, who is 4 years old. I was wearing my mother’s wedding band. I showed the ring to my niece and told her it belonged to her great-grandmother. She looked at me and said, “And when you die, I can have it.” I could do nothing but chuckle.

Upon further reflection, I do hope that when I die my great-niece gets that wedding band. I want it to be a reminder to her of the great-grandmother she had so little time with. I want to share with her as she grows up stories about how her great-grandmother grew up poor near Portageville, and that despite that start in life, all that she accomplished in life. I also want to share with her the stories my dad used to tell my sister and me about growing up in a humble family in Rockview, and all of the hilarious adventures he had as a child. It is my hope that by sharing memories and a few sentimental items, my parents will continue to live on in the life of their great-granddaughter, a child who is so precious to me.

And there is another person of humble birth that I want to tell her about as she grows up. I want to share with her stories of a baby born in a manger. I want to speak about how this baby grew up to be a man who could heal the sick and who proclaim the kingdom of God. I want to tell the story of Jesus, both human and divine, who loves us all so much that he willingly died on a cross so that we might live forever with Him in paradise. I hope that you have someone in your life who you can’t wait to share the good news of Jesus with, too.

“Now his grace is revealed through the appearance of our savior, Christ Jesus. He destroyed death and brought life and immortality into clear focus through the good news.” 2 Timothy 1:10

The Rev. Karen Dumey is the pastor of Hunter Memorial First Presbyterian Church in Sikeston.