The Gift of Interruption
by Sally Chambers Jesus often stopped in the midst of what he was doing when parents interrupted his teaching to tuck their baby into his arms or place their little ones on his lap. He never rebuked a mother or father or refused to bless a child. He never rebuked his disciples, who misunderstood for a moment the importance of that interruption. Those parents wanted their children to experience the blessing, touch, and attention of this great man, whom they believed to be the Messiah, and those children were blessed indeed. My mother used to tell of a time when her father interrupted her at her desk as she studied late one night. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and told her “There are sometimes things more important than homework.” And so, she left her studies behind. Her daddy led her outside, and together they entered the dark night, walking into the midst of wonder. Hand in hand the two of them stood and watched the beauty of the shimmering lights in the northe...