January 1, 1995	Wisdom and Stature	Luke 2:41-52

We don't have much information from the Bible about Jesus' life as a little boy. What we do have is this little story that was read a few moments ago from the Gospel of Luke. There, we are told how Jesus and his parents made a trip to Jerusalem on his twelfth Passover to celebrate his "coming of age," or what the Jewish people today would call the "Bar Mitzva." And the amazing thing about this story is that after having stayed in the city for a few days, and are on their way home, Mary and Joseph suddenly discover that Jesus isn't on the road with them. They check with relatives on the road who they supposed Jesus might be with, but then realize that he must have been left in the city. So, panic stricken (as you can expect any good parents might be), Mary and Joseph went back into Jerusalem and began to look every where they might expect a twelve year old kid to be. They looked all over Jerusalem for him without any success. And, finally, and no doubt at wit's end, they checked in the Temple. And, sure enough, there he was, talking with the Teachers of the Law, amazing them with his insights and understanding. And the story ends with the words: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man."

This morning, I'd like to concentrate on this sentence at the end of our Gospel lesson. For even though it is just a short sentence, containing only fifteen words, it nevertheless says a lot about Jesus, about his parents, about God, and about us.

Over the past few days I have been thinking, for one thing, about the importance of wisdom and stature in our lives. As I have thought about this I have come to realize that when we speak of a person growing in wisdom what we're actually talking about is a person's increasing capability to think; to use and even to trust one's mind to solve problems. Stature, on the other hand, has to do with one's physical growth.

So, I find it interesting that as Luke talked about Jesus' growing up, he talked about wisdom and stature. In many ways, "wisdom" and "stature" reminds me of the debate sociologists and psychologists have had over the years of what is more important, environment or genes. Over the years I think most people have come to understand how important both are to a person's growth. To grow in stature requires that a person not only have the genetic material required, but also a loving, nurturing, supporting environment. With the right environment, even a person who hasn't been greatly gifted genetically can do pretty well. But, with the wrong environment, even the best chromosomes may not be enough for a person to make it.

I have been agonizing with a good friend who has been struggling with an adopted son (we'll call him "Billy") for over 12 years. Before Billy was born he was abused. His mother smoked cigarettes and drank heavily while she was pregnant with him. After Billy was born his parents thought he was cute, so they fed him. But that was about all they did. They got by with changing his diaper only a couple of times a day. He was dirty most of the time.

By the time he got to be a toddler Billy had been slapped and tossed around more than anyone would like to know. His father began to sexually abuse him. When his mother got angry she would use the boy as an ashtray, burning him with her cigarette butts. When Billy was six his father took a knife and stabbed him in the top of his shoulders. The boy was never seen by a doctor for those injuries. No sutures, no stitches were ever applied to close the wounds. So, keloid scars are on his shoulders, today.

By the time Billy was eight years old the state stepped in. That's right -- It took them eight years. They finally took the boy away from his abusive mother and father and put him into a foster home, and then to another, and then to another. Each time it didn't work out because by that time Billy was so messed up psychologically that he was disruptive to any home he went to.

Finally, about 12 years ago, Billy was taken to the home of this friend of mine. She was a single woman in her thirties who wanted to make a difference in the world, so she had decided to open her home up to a child who could use a loving environment. And she literally put everything she had into helping Billy. Not only did Billy get his own bedroom to sleep in, but for the first time in his life he got his own bicycle and new clothes and more than enough food to eat every day. When Billy misbehaved, when he lied, when he stole things, when he disobeyed, this friend of mine took him to the best child psychologist she could find. For twelve years she struggled with that boy. But he was so damaged. The first eight years of the boy's life had been so miserable, so ugly, so broken and battered psychologically and physically that Billy probably never will lead what we would call a normal life. Billy still steals. Billy still lies. Billy still doesn't seem to know right from wrong. And, in fact, just a few nights ago the sheriff deputies had to come and get Billy, put him under arrest, and take him off to jail.

In spite of everything that has been done for him in the last 12 years, Billy's life is a mess. The wonderful woman who he called "Mom" for all that time is now at her wit's end because, in spite of all her efforts, she hasn't yet found the key that can unlock Billy's hurt that took place during his first eight years.	But, I guess the real lesson here is as you look at Billy's life, you have to realize how important environment is to a person's growth, especially during the first few years of life. Those of us who were raised by one or two even reasonably functional, average parents have been blessed more than we may know. We can be thankful to our parents who may have even done a half decent job of raising us. Indeed, how vital it is for children to be born and raised into loving homes where they at least know they are safe, where they can trust that they will be nurtured and fed and given the love they deserve!

As I look at my own childhood I am sometimes made painfully aware that the job of parenting my parents did was full of flaws, some of them pretty glaring flaws, at that. And probably many of us here can say the same thing. But for the most part they did a reasonably good job, or else we probably wouldn't be here today.

This morning's Gospel lesson says that Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature. We can be pretty sure that one of the biggest reasons that this was so was not only due to Jesus' link to the God- head. I'm sure that Mary and Joseph also had a pretty major part to play in Jesus' growth both in stature and in wisdom. The scriptures lead to us to believe that they did everything they could to ensure his safety. And we can reasonably expect that they were good parents in most other ways, as well.

But, imagine all the children in our country or even in our community or perhaps in our neighborhood who are on the edge of despair, who could easily be like Billy if it wasn't for the extra help, or the extra bit of love that some caring person might be able to give them along the way. And certainly, that person could be you or me. Any one of us could be the one who might make the difference between someone young person either falling off the edge or making it in this world. Isn't it important for us all, or even for our society as a whole, to be involved with insuring the quality of life for our youth, and especially for those who are in the first few years of their life?

Of course, today is New Year's Day, and usually on New Year's Eve people make resolutions. Now, I'm not into making resolutions because usually within about three weeks or so I forget that I even made them. But, there is a thought that I'd like to leave with you in the form of a prayer that could very well be a resolution for any of us who may be parents or grandparents or just persons who are concerned about children. Let us pray:

Oh, heavenly Father, make me a better parent. Teach me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say, and to answer all their questions kindly. Keep me from interrupting them or contradicting them. Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me. Forbid that I should ever laugh at their mistakes, or resort to shame or redicule when they displease me. May I never punish them for my own selfish satisfaction or to show my power.

Let me not tempt my child to lie or steal. And guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all I say and do that honesty produced happiness.

Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me. And when I am out of sorts, help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue.

May I ever be mindful that my children are children and I should not expect of them the judgment of adults.

Let me not rob them of the opportunity to wait on themselves and to make decisions.

Bless me with the bigness to grant them all their reasonable requests, and the courage to deny them priveleges I know will do them harm.

Make me fair and just and kind. And fit me, Oh Lord, to be loved and respected and imitated by my children. Amen.