Becoming Like One of These

It is amazing how much I learn from my child. I know that Scripture teaches that I am the one to disciple, encourage, and train my child in order to nurture her desire for a relationship with Christ, but many times I find that she is the one who teaches and encourages me in my walk with God. This morning was one of those times.

Catelyn and I were looking at pictures of some of the devastation from the earthquake in Indonesia a few days ago. We came to a picture that showed several buildings completely flattened with debris scattered all over. I explained to her that the ground shook really hard and that the roofs and walls of these buildings fell down...and that people were inside the buildings. I continued to share that some people have died, but that some people are still alive and trapped inside and they could be really hurt badly and that they haven't eaten or drank any water for three days. As she quietly stared at the picture she suddenly turned to me with a huge smile and said, "I want to go there and pick up the trash and carry those people to God and help Him put band-aids on their owies. And we can give them food and something to drink because they are probably hungry and thirsty." My heart melted at those beautiful words that poured forth from this 3-year-old. I told her, "Catelyn, I love your heart." Then we prayed together for the victims and for those helping, asking God to help them.

A few hours past and I began to be burdened with a nagging realization - I neglected to take the perfect opportunity to nurture my daughter's heart in loving others in deed, not simply in word. She felt moved to "do something" and SHE SHOULD. I want my children to grow to be doers of the Word, not merely hearers and so deceive themselves (James 1:22). I shared this with Corey, and we agreed that we will tell her that WE CAN help them. We can donate to MAF's Disaster Relief Fund to help our MAF team that is there RIGHT NOW serving, loving, and caring for these people. So, we explained to Catelyn that we can't be there in person helping right now, but that there are people there right now who are and we can help them by giving money to buy food, water, and band-aids so that they can help those people. We asked her how much money that she wanted to give to help and we would do it together as a family right then. She told us and we prayed together and did it.

I'm excited at more moments like these that allow us as parents to teach the TRUTH of God's grace and love...not just in word, but in our actions. Today, God taught me once again through the simple and untainted love of a child that God's love is simple...it doesn't matter how "big" our help is, it is simply that we choose to help. Thank you, Catelyn for your example, and thank You God for your constant reminders through the heart of a child.

"And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" Matthew 18:2-4