Joy A. Mead

My daughter, Anna who is six years old, has been very curious about when her brother Luke, three years old, will officially become a child of God. We actively live out our faith, including with the kids and sharing with them who God is through prayer, Bible stories, and chats about Him. Whenever it has come up about accepting Jesus in our heart, Anna has been keen to ask Luke if he wants to pray that prayer yet. I love her eagerness as a believer herself, who asked Jesus to be her Lord and Saviour before her fourth birthday. I’ve often added to the conversation letting Luke know that there’s no rush. He can make his choice when he is ready to accept Jesus.

But yesterday on the drive home from school, he said, “I want Jesus in my heart!” Because the music was on, his voice was faint so I had to double check. I made it clear that there was no pressure unless he really felt ready.

By dinner time, I asked him once more if he still wanted to accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour when Daddy got home and he nodded yes. To big sister Anna and our delight as parents, we led Luke in a salvation prayer and he officially became a child of God!

I guess what amazed me about Luke’s decision and Anna’s a few years ago, was the simplicity of genuine hearts ready to fully believe and accept Jesus. Their childlike faith that says, “We’ve learned enough (so far in our young lives) about who Jesus is and we choose to believe in Him,” brings true joy to this mother’s heart.

It’s been in those unsuspecting moments when I’ve not pushed it, that they have learned what is real and true already in life. There is an openness to talking about God and all things faith based, so they have always been free to ask questions. And as they grow older, more questions will come, but I hope and pray that they will have enough grounded foundation in their faith to help them understand that even through their doubts (at times) and questions, God is constant and He will journey through it all with them.

Dear God,

Thank you for childlike faith that wholeheartedly trusts in you and the amazing love you have for us, by giving us Jesus and sending the Holy Spirit. Help us as parents to not underestimate what our children can learn about You even from the youngest of ages. May we try to use every opportunity great and small to share your love and the wonderful relationship you draw us into when we put our faith in Jesus. Refresh and renew our perspectives so that we seek your Kingdom first, fully allowing our children to participate in our family’s faith journey.

Amen

Verses of encouragement:

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

“And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’ ” Matthew 18:3-4

“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two fish, but how far will they go among so many? Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.” John 6:9-11 *I love that of all the people with Jesus that day, it was a wonderful boy who was willing to share his food and in faith, he gave it to Jesus to ultimately bless everyone!

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.” Deuteronomy 11:18-21