Tip of My Iceberg

Soccer has been a part of our family for years. My kids all played–each successive child wanted their own uniform and the chance to play like the “big kids”.

Several of us were at our grandson’s recent soccer game–he’s a goalkeeper but doubles as a field player when they need him there. Kolly, at two and a half, doesn’t have to be asked twice about going to a soccer game. She chose her own soccer kit to wear, wanting to be just like her older cousin, Sydney. While there, she spent a good deal of the time kicking and chasing a ball more to her size, giggling when she made a good pass.

Then it began to rain.

It rained intermittently throughout the game, and we were all soaked. Umbrellas didn’t seem to help; you’d put it up, and the rain would stop. You closed it, and the rain began.

Nothing deterred Kolly from enjoying the game and the rain. She repeated how she was going to be like Sydney when she grew up. Conditions didn’t alter her commitment to what she wants to do. While I was freezing in a soaked sweatshirt, Kolly was enjoying the rain and the moment. She had a plan for herself at her young age. It may not pan out, but she was thinking ahead.

Rarely do people know what they want to be or accomplish in life at the age of two. When I was close to that age, I wanted to be a horse trainer. We joke often even at our age about what we want to be when we grow up.

For centuries, the path a child would take upon maturing was determined by what their fathers did. Fathers taught their sons skills; mothers taught their daughters how to establish and grow a home. Every now and again a daughter would follow a father into his field of work.

It was unusual to pursue a craft or profession different from what your family knew and practiced.

As Jesus grew up, He inevitably worked alongside Joseph, His earthly father. Joseph was a craftsman, a “tekton” in Greek. Matthew 13:55-56 is where the confusion often comes over His profession being a carpenter. “Then they scoffed, ‘He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, His mother, and His brothers…and His sisters live right here among us.’” The word “tekton” makes more sense as a craftsman or builder because there is a scarcity of trees in that part of Israel, where Nazareth was. Homes were built out of stone, and a huge quarry existed between Nazareth and Zippori where Joseph most likely worked, where Herod Antipas developed a city so beautiful it was called the “jewel of Galilee”.

As a carpenter or craftsman, Jesus learned how to build things–first structures, then people. He knew how to focus on the details because construction requires knowing how things work together. How they connect.

Jesus was born to a humble family, a Baby who was fully dependent on His parents for all His needs. The One who would grow to be the Savior of the World. Everything about His life was focused on who He was–God and Man. He came with a purpose, to offer His life for the ransom of many.

He knew in coming what He would do when He reached manhood. He came to give His life for people who often didn’t even acknowledge Him.

Kolly has choices ahead of her. She has no clue what she will be yet, but she’ll weigh the cost to see if her choices are worth it.

Jesus knew the cost to Himself when He came.

That’s what real unconditional love does.

He gives its all for those He cares for.