Yesterday, the Christian world celebrated "Palm Sunday," which is always the Sunday before Easter. It is usually a somewhat forgotten "holy" day, nothing more than a prelude to the week of Easter.

For Virginia though, it is an especially wonderful holiday. Let me explain.

Virginia had been married for many years without children. She had become accustomed to the reality that she would have no children. At one time, she may have even thought it was best since her husband was an alcoholic. But in 1947, her husband stopped drinking, went to college for the first time, and actually became a pastor. So now, at age 33, she thought again that children would be nice. They prayed and asked God for children, but after many years and tears, they presumed that God's answer was "no."

So, in the late summer of 1950, when the doctor told Virginia, age 37, that a baby was on the way, it was definitely "good news" and a surprise. And then, to magnify the blessing, the baby boy was born on "Palm Sunday" of 1951. While her husband was preaching at a little country Methodist church, a baby boy was born during the 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning service.

The new Mom and Dad were as proud as any couple ever could have been. They couldn't stop talking about "Timmy," who they often referred to as a blessing, or a gift from God, or even an unexpected miracle. Even as years went by, Timmy continued to hear the story told many times, of how Virginia prayed and God heard, and a baby boy was born on Palm Sunday. Timmy almost started to hate the story he'd heard too many times. The story always included some comment that Virginia was sure God had a special plan for Timmy's life.

As Timmy became Tim, and as he grew into a young man, and as it appeared on the surface that Tim was nothing special (in fact rather ordinary in everything, including school and athletics), the story of Palm Sunday was almost forgotten… by everyone but Tim. He still remembered the words of Virginia: "We believe that God gave us Timmy as a special gift and God has a wonderful plan for him." Those words were always ringing in his ears.

They still do today, because I am "Timmy", and Virginia is my Mom, now 88 years old. And as I pass my 51st birthday, I realize that God did indeed have a wonderful plan for a very ordinary boy.

Your children will probably turn out to be whatever you tell them they will be. If you tell them they are a blessing, they just might be a blessing.

Have you told your kids this week how special they are to you? Have you reflected with them on how happy you were the day they were born?

"They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!" - John 12:13