Boy to the World: Out of the Mouths of Babes

But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” ~ Luke 18:16 NIV

“Heavenly Father, thank you for this day and our food and we went to the playground and I fell down and hurt my knee. I was the line leader in school today, and then it was library day. I got a book about SuperFly Guy. I don’t really like apple but mom makes me eat it before I can have treat. Oh, yeah, and thank you that we got to go to DisneyWorld. In Jesus Christ, Amen.”

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We were driving down the woodsy road on the way to the boys’ summer camp. It had just rained the night before and the air was “misty-moisty.” The sun was shining through the canopy of leaves and we could see the rays of light, reflecting off the damp air. I said to the boys, “Look at how the sun is shining through the trees – it seems like God’s love is flowing down to us here at camp.”

My oldest reminded me, “God’s love flows down to us wherever we are, Mom.”

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My three sons and I were kneeling on the altar in our church, peering into the baptismal font. One of our friends was going to be baptized that day. My then five-year-old said, “I see Jesus in the water!” I saw him, too, in the reflection of the stained-glass window that is placed in the forefront of our church. What an awesome visual – we all know Jesus is in the waters of baptism, figuratively speaking, and I was sure my friend would feel the love of Jesus as she was dunked, but to see Him so clearly and as large-as-life was a perfect literal representation.

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I took my youngest to McDonald's for the first time ever to get a little bag of french fries, since I had forgotten to buy any “ah-tee-yoes” (potatoes) at the supermarket that day, and dinner just isn't dinner without ah-tee-yoes.

There was a family in front of us in line – a mom, a dad, and a young girl. The dad had a beard and a long ponytail.

My son studied him for a while, took his thumb out of his mouth, and then burst out with, “Gee uth! Gee uth, Mama!” as he pointed to the man excitedly.

I repositioned my son in my arms to help him to stop gesticulating and whispered, “Well, honey...uhm...I think he’s a regular daddy...”

But I wondered

Wouldn't it be great if Jesus was as real to me as he is to my son?

Imagine if I could seethe light of Christ in everyone, including that guy in McDonald's?

What if that guy in McDonald's was Jesus? 

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We were listening to a Gospel CD in the car and one of the boys’ favorite songs is “Jesus, Lover of my Soul.” They asked me to play it again. And again. And againandagainandagain.

After the fourth time, I asked them, “So, boys. What do you think a soul is?”

My oldest said, “It’s like my holy spirit.”

Yes, I imagine it is, I thought, but was speechless.

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