A Child's Reminder

Preschoolers have always been one of my favorite ages.  Their wide-eyed innocence and enjoyment of each moment is refreshing for those of us who have been around for a while longer.  And my recent stay with my grandchildren didn’t disappoint.

One thing that was different this time was that they had reached the age that allowed me to dig out some of my old ideas from my preschool-teaching days, and they were ready to have fun learning with Grandma.  Of course, letters and numbers and colors and shapes were on the agenda, as well as a special craft; but being able to also reinforce their parents’ teaching about God was a special privilege.

Never underestimate God’s sovereignty in even the little things and the power of his Word for even the youngest child!  I came equipped with one Bible verse to teach and one object lesson to reinforce it – randomly selected before I left home from a very old preschool resource: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid” (Hebrews 13:6).  I had no idea that my grandson had been experiencing times of fear and imaginary but very real fearful thoughts/images.  But God knew!

While the verse was less effective at this time with my granddaughter, Jacob found out that God’s Word had an answer to his present fears.  His parents were able to continue to use the verse (which he instantly memorized) to remind him of God’s presence and love for him.  At the tender age of four, he has begun to learn that God’s Word is true and that God cares about every part of his life.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that God’s Word is living and active, and I have seen that truth so many times in my walk with God.  Sometimes we need his Word to convict or correct us, sometimes to teach or train us, and sometimes to reassure or comfort us.  Second Timothy 3:16-17 reminds us that the Bible is God’s very breath and is useful for all of these purposes.  But we adults sometimes need to learn something from children. 

Jacob never asked me the kind of questions adults ask about God.  He didn’t analyze the memory verse and didn’t seem to wonder HOW God was his helper – he just believed what it said and knew he didn’t need to be afraid anymore.   If only we could approach God and his Word with the same innocence as preschoolers – able to easily trust and see God in the small things.  Thank you, grandson, for reminding me to take God at his Word.  He can always be fully trusted!