Jesse was a first grader eager to learn when he came to stay with us as a foster child. I enrolled him in the nearby public school and he struggled at first to keep up with the class. At home he begged me to go over spelling and vocabulary lists. I drove him to and from school.

Jesse’s case worker visited one day while he was in school, and we had a nice talk together. At the end she suggested that she drive me to pick Jesse up after school. We waited in the long “pick-up” line until until Jesse came outside. He didn’t recognize the car, and paced back and forth near the entrance until I stood up beside the car, and waved to him . When he finally saw me, he ran to the car and panted, “I thought you forgot me!” He was clearly agitated. I said to Jesse, “You know, Jesse,that at three o’clock in the afternoon I have only one thing to do, and that is to pick you up from school. I never make an appointment to go to the doctor or the dentist at that time. I never go to the bank , or go shopping , or to the library, or talk on the phone with a friend at 3:0’clock on a school day, because picking you up is the most important thing I have to do.

Jesse smiled and I felt relieved that he had relaxed. I remembered Jesus’ words , Where your treasure is there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21) I hoped that Jesse felt treasured , and knew that my heart was with him, too. For my part, it was certainly true.

Jesus spoke those words as a warning that sometimes , without even thinking,we place our “treasure” in “things of the world”, and drift away from what matters to our hearts: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. (Mathew 6:19)

Perhaps today we need to hear Jesus’ words every bit as much as his listeners needed it over two thousand years ago. I know that I do.

Love in Him,

Prue