I can learn so much about faith and God through my kids, even when they still have so much learning and growing to do. M (4 years old) seems to really be grasping the love of God and what that looks like towards people. He’s often friendly to complete strangers. Because he’s a kid, it’s easy and not unusual for strangers to smile back at him. But, M is open and out there with strangers when I am not. I can learn from him.
M randomly breaks out into simple songs about God that he’s made. That is worship! We might sing songs we’ve learned, which is great, but he pulls lyrics about God’s love out of his heart! I can learn from him.
J (almost 2 years old) will stop in the middle of a meal, fold his hands, and say his version of, “Pray” when we have forgotten to do so. M will interrupt our nightly prayers to include prayers of his own for healing of his grandma, firefighters to get where they’re going quickly, or for his fire alarm to not go off in the middle of the night. I can learn from them.
M asks questions about God. He is trying to figure out more about God. For a 4 year old, I think that’s amazing. He’s gathering info, thinking about it in his head, making connections, and coming up with questions. Sometimes again and again until he gets an answer he thinks he understands. He’s growing in faith, even at this early age. He’s not giving up on learning, even when it seems so complicated. Something especially complicated is the idea of the Trinity. “You mean God is God and Jesus is God? That’s weird!” We make sure to tell him that it’s complicated for adults to understand too. I’m so encouraged by some of the things he says. He was watching a virtual VBS (Vacation Bible School) video and saw an image of the cross and the tomb and he said, “My God died there.” He often says he’s sad that Jesus died. I remind him that He rose again for our good. It’s good to take one step of understanding at a time. I can learn from him.
Bed time seems to be such a good landing spot for his questions. Even though I don’t know the answers to all of his questions, I can always at least go to the Truths I do know. That God is good. God loves everyone. And God is in control. My kids can learn from me and what they can’t learn from me, God will reveal to them in His own time and in His own way.
Attributes we’ve had as a child are often lost as we grow older and they become unused and unpracticed. That sparkle in the eye when ice cream is set in front of you fades in some and disappears completely in others. That thing we could be thankful for and excited about becomes common. Oh, ice cream again? Unexpected and hard circumstances and seemingly unanswered prayers can harden a soul. So, how can we hold on to or re-gain some things that we had as children or as new believers? Perhaps by enjoying little bits of life like in this book about celebrations. Or by writing in a grateful journal or recording answered prayers.
My mom calls it my tail wagging, when I get excited about something. I apparently haven't lost all my child-like joyful spirit, at least when it comes to yummy food or going on dates. The reason I get the tail wag has changed over the years, but I practice using my joyful spirit and so do my boys. M’s tail wags when he gets to spend time with us as a whole family or go on “dates” with mom or dad. J’s whole body gets excited when he hears a big truck or emergency vehicle go by. He’ll point to his ear and make an exaggerated “O” with his mouth. We recognize the joy-full gifts around us. I pray I get that tail wag when talking about Jesus or telling others about how Jesus has transformed my life. Does your testimony include a tail wag? Dive deep into how God has impacted your life, and you might find your own version of a tail wag.
Lord, open our eyes to see the joy You’ve surrounded us with. Fill our souls with stories that show Your glory. Thank you for letting us know You. May we always seek to know more of You, to pass what we learn on to others, and may others share insight they’ve learned about You. I pray the more we know who You are and what You’ve done, the more our souls are filled with joy that spreads to others. Amen.