I remember when I pinned a "bruised reed" on my oldest grandson just before we left Croatia

I was saying goodbye to my then four-year-old grandson at the Split, Croatia airport when I pinned this on him.  I tried to tell him in a pre-schooler sort of way what it meant.  And then I pinned it on him and said "don't worry" if you lose it.  I had more, I told him.

Then I read the devotion this morning from Our Daily Bread about the birth of Jesus and how he wasn't born as a king in some sort of Trump Tower kind of place.  It was like the cow farms about a half mile down from us where in spring mornings you can smell the animals and all the poop they leave in the fields.

Right now, the world seems to be awash in sin.  Hate seems to be the favored four-letter word.  There's an answer and that's what we are celebrating today.  I have to remind myself everyday of the hope that he gives us.  It's the only real hope that sticks like Gorilla Glue.

I want my grandson Xavier to never forget that and I want to encourage him to talk about it with his siblings and his cousins, as well as his friends.  

By the way, the verse about Him not breaking a bruised reed is from Isaiah 42:1-4.