The other day one of my grand-daughters wanted to do a maze. We showed her what she had to do and where to start. After a minute or so she asked my husband if he could help her. G-pa told her he would leave a trail of “breadcrumbs” for her to follow, to help her find the way. My husband proceeded to place pencil dots along the right path, but only so far and then would encourage my grand-daughter to figure out where to go next. If she got stuck, he would place more “breadcrumbs”. Curious, my grand-daughter asked why they were called “breadcrumbs” and so my husband told her the story of Hansel and Gretel.

Going to church as a child was something I always enjoyed. I loved the stained glass, the mysterious feel of it, the hymns and reading my little picture bible. When I was seven years old I fell in love with Jesus.

I remember so clearly sitting in that pew, beside my Mother, and looking through my picture bible about what Jesus had endured leading up to His crucifixion. As background noise of the service hummed around me, I became captivated by it. Finally, I lifted my eyes up to the large wooden cross, behind the altar, with the crucified Christ hanging on it. I remember staring and staring in awe as, for the first time, I realized Jesus had done that for me; because He loved me! My mother had to drag me out of church that day; I didn’t want to leave because for the first time in my young life, I felt totally loved. As she pulled me along, I kept looking back with longing at that cross.

As a teenager though, I began to question the hypocrosy of the religiosity I saw around me and drifted away into a life with few rules and seeking my own glory. For years I wandered like a thirsty beggar in a desert. Going from one “relationship” to another looking to have my cup filled by those who had empty cups themselves.

Occassionally I would go back, to test church out, only to leave empty and lonelier and so I gave up again and went on with my life. I kept trying to find Him again not realizing He had never left.

You see, He left me a trail of “breadcrumbs”, along my path, leading me back home. I just didn’t recognize these as such at the time:

• My African college teacher who shared her faith with me and invited me to her group bible study; something I had never heard of before.

• My sister’s friend who was an evangelical Christian and watched Christian programs all the time. She beamed with joy and would excitedly share the gospel with me.

• Visiting a different church out of curiosity and witnessing a new way of worshipping God.

• My elderly landlady in Edmonton. I rented a room from her when I moved out there for my first, full-time, nursing job. She shared her faith and had a beautiful old piano (something I had always wanted to learn) with books of children’s Christian music that I began to try to play.

• My night course English professor who shared his faith, gave me books to read and invited me to the evangelical church he attended.

These were all beautiful” breadcrumbs” which led me back to the Bread of Life and his waiting arms of love!

John 6:35 “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”” NIV

So never forget my friends, that what may seem like small, unimportant words and deeds to you, are appetizing morsels to the starving souls of those who receive them.

1 Corinthians 3:5 “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it but God made it grow.”

Ephesians 1:16 ” I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”

Oh, thank you, my Jesus, for leaving me a trail of “breadcrumbs” that helped me find my way back to you! Thank you for those who were willing to share their love for You with me.

Be well!

Patricia