By Zoe Cannon, Gratitude for the Gift of Faith
“But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).
Jesus wants us to be like little children. This does not mean to be immature or unreasonably needy. Jesus taught us to trust, be humble and dependent on God, accepting his authority and to rely on his love. Salvation history shows us that obedience is liberating when you follow the teachings of Jesus. God’s plan is not ambiguous, and it is always true.
We are blessed with eight grandchildren, and if you are a grandparent, you know the feeling of joy each one brings into the family! The creativity of a child is a natural gift. They do not need expensive toys or electronics to have fun, they do however need our genuine interest and quality time. Being around children generates indescribable joy.
In the presence of a grandchild, your heart wanders to memories of decades past…. you see the facial expressions, personality, humor and spirit of your own child, who is now the parent of this grandchild. Sharing stories about their parent’s childhood brings laughter, and when you explain the similarities and differences of the times, they are in awe.
We spent four days with our granddaughters in Warsaw, Indiana. The girls are 10 and 6 years old. We planned art projects, science experiments and prepared a meal for their parents. The girls’ contribution, involvement and appreciation were incredible. They learned to use tools by building birdhouses, and they baked granola in a “solar pizza box oven” outside on the sidewalk. We took a nature walk and covertly found items to create a game called “guess what’s in the bag?” The giggles and anticipation were great. We used some of the nature finds to create a “fairy garden”, complete with pond, where dragonflies and goldfish were created. I recommend a book titled: “Camp Granny” by Sharon Lovejoy, where I found some fun ideas.
The best part of our visit was witnessing the family interactions during the early morning, and when their parents were getting home from work. When it was time to practice for an upcoming soccer tryout, the 10-year-old requested it become family time. The van was packed with scooters, water bottles and soccer equipment, and off they went.
Their meals begin with prayer, and they sit down together. The bedtime routine operates like a well-oiled machine, with baths, brushing teeth, story time, prayers and a plan for the next day of events. The structure of life in the home is very scriptural, it is reliant on love, accepts authority, mutual respect and of course liberating obedience, which keeps us all out of trouble.
In a perfect world every child lives in a safe and fun environment. We know this is not the reality for some families. We have a responsibility as a family member, a citizen and representative of the kingdom of God to help make the world better. May our words teach, and our actions speak when we help others understand the importance of a relationship with Jesus. Being childlike will help us inherit the kingdom of heaven. This will bring JOY to the Lord! – because this is TRUTH! Amen!