Ok, calling all Story Tellers! How about a thread on "Lessons Received of Children"?
In Mat 19:14 Jesus said, "… Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." So what lessons about "the Kingdom" have you learned from kids? What I'm looking for are stories or even just one-liners that came "from the mouth of Babes" that had a significant impact on your heart or communicated a significant spiritual truth to you. These can be funny or sad or just profound, it doesn't matter. We will laugh, cry and marvel with you as you share.
To start off, here is a true story about my youngest son, Taylor, when he was just 4-years old. Taylor is now 12, and has given me permission to "tell his business" so I think I'm ok in doing this.
Btw, since the time of this story, Taylor has had three successful lense transplant surgeries. Taylor's eye Doctor is a wonderful Christian man (Dr Earl Crouch) who regularly donates his time and resources to treating eye diseases in children of third world countries. We have been so blessed to have him and it seems Taylor has received the Lord's full measure of Grace as his vision today is 20/20. Anyway, here is the story.
Taylor, Trains & Child-Like Faith:
Our four-year-old son, Taylor, sees very poorly in his left eye - he has a cataract. This is a very rare condition in children and 10 years ago almost always lead to blindness. He was diagnosed with this condition last week (Nov 15). He must wear a patch over his good (right) eye, until his operation, in January which will replace his cloudy lense with a custom made artificial one. This patching procedure is supposed to make the weaker (left) eye work harder, making it stronger and more able to adapt to the artificial lense once it is in place.
Anyway, Taylor & I (patch & all) were at the Mall in the Train Store - Taylor's favorite place. He was very busy trying to see all the trains in that store and there were many to see and let's face it – He only had one eye! I told him that I needed to talk to the manager and where I would be in the store. While in the store, I was never out of eye-sight of him (I'm 6'4") but he could not always see me.
I was trying to talk to the store manager concerning our next train purchase and did not want Taylor to hear me. As I was talking, I heard Taylor scream, "Daddy!" just once. I ran over to him and he said, "Oh, Hi Daddy, I could not find you and I was scared at first, but then I remembered what you said about Daddys and that you would not leave me." But I could not remember, at the time, telling him "about Daddys", although everything he said was definitely true! So I said, "Taylor, you are right, but when did I tell you that?" "When you sang me that song, about Daddys", he said.
It was then that I remembered the words of a Country song (Randy Travis, I think) that we had sung together about a week ago. The part that he remembered went something like this....
"Daddys don't love their children just every now and then,
It's a love that lasts forever, AMEN!"
I had told Taylor that his Heavenly Daddy, just like his earthly Daddy, would always love him and never leave him! Apparently, Taylor understood this although he could not see me. For him, this understanding meant that I was nearby, as I had promised.
Bursting with pride, I gave him a big hug. Taylor hugged back so hard I nearly choked. Taylor felt the wetness of tears on my face and said, "Daddy, your eyes a running - you need a patch like me!"
Sometimes even a four-year-old can so beautifully punctuate the most basic precepts of one's faith. As follower's of Jesus, may we allow Him to "Grow-Us-Up" in Child-like faith and help us walk by that faith - not by sight!
Love, Taylor's Dad (John)
