More than thirty years ago I left a Christian bookstore in Australia with a small card that had caught my attention. This “Friendship Cards” is copyrighted by “Christian Art”.

Why have I carried this card in my wallet all this time? Is my wallet like a woman’s handbag, capable of containing everything but the kitchen sink? No! While the story told on the card is so simple, it conveys such a powerful message, so powerful that the card will remain with me throughout my life. The card tells this story…

One day as Jesus preached to a large crowd, He was approached by several young men, one of whom held something fast in his hands. Having heard of the wisdom of Jesus, they had plotted to fool Him when the crowd was at its greatest.

 The day before, they captured a small bird. One of the men planned to say to Jesus, “Teacher, what is it that I have in my hands?” If Jesus should answer a bird, he would ask, “Teacher, is the bird dead or alive?” If Jesus said the bird is dead, he would open his hands and let the bird fly away. If Jesus answered the bird is alive, he would break its neck with his thumbs and reveal a dead bird.

 The young man confidently approached Jesus with his clasped hands outstretched and questioned, “Teacher, if you are so wise, what is in my hands?” Jesus quickly replied, “A small bird is in your hands.” Somewhat startled by Jesus’ wisdom, the young man continued, “Teacher, if you are so wise, tell me if the bird is dead or alive.”

 Without a moments hesitation, but speaking in a solemn voice, Jesus said, “Young man, the decision is in your hands.”

Before I met Jesus, my life was in my hands! Before I met Jesus, my marriage was in my hands! Before I met Jesus, the hope of my life was in my hands! Well, since meeting Jesus, I tell a different story. My life is no longer in my hands but safely in the hands of the One who created me… the One who died for me… the One who forever lives to keep me alive… I’m in His hands!

In whose hands is your life?

Best wishes

Bill Joukhadar