The Faith of a Child

My son Chase....to say that he has an enormous heart would be an understatement.  He loves school and boy, does this child love church.  His understanding of God is simple and solid. God made me?  Cool.  What are we having for lunch?

In adult land, that would be an example of potentially not hearing the message, or maybe even brushing you off.  However, this child literally accepts it as it is.  God made me.  Check.  Next question.  What's my next meal?  Oh? God is providing it?  That's nice of Him.  What is it?  The reason I know he is solid in this is that the very next day, he says "What did God provide for my lunch today, Mom?"  (This was a time when I was muttering under my breath that nobody in this house brings their dishes to the sink, and this apparently was enough to tick me off.  Redirection from a 4 year old is always humbling.)

A few months ago, as he and I finished a Bible story, I told him about asking Jesus into his heart and the idea that when he was ready, then God would be with him forever in his heart.  Chase wanted to do it.  So, he prayed for Jesus to come into his heart.  It brought tears to my eyes, but as I'm always the skeptic, I anticipated we would have this discussion again and again until he remembered.  My adult brain ruins a lot of things. 

This week I drove Chase to school.  We talked about what he learned at church on Sunday, and he then said, very matter of factly "Mom.  Guess what?  (Insert BFF's name from preschool here) said there is no God."  I think I actually prayed in that moment something very crass, like "Holy crap, God.  I am not ready."  The Spirit is still working on me, if you can't tell. 

So I responded "What do you think about that, Chase?"  And Chase looked at me and said "I'm sad for him.  I told him that there is a God, but he said no."  So as an adult, I think this is my time to turn, look the child in the eye and say firmly "Chase.  I know with all my heart that there is a God and He loves you. "  Chase looks back at me, and says, as if he can't believe I even needed to say this...."Mom, I know.  Remember in the playroom when I said that prayer?  He's in my heart.  Remember mom?"  

So now I'm all worried that he's running around preschool yelling at little kids that God exists.  So I say "Chase, even if (insert BFF's name here) doesn't believe in God, we are always kind and love people regardless. Right?"  Again, Chase looks at me as if I just don't understand.  "Yes, mom.  I'm not angry at him.  Just sad.  But we still play on the swing.  Today we are going to play in the shop area.  Where do birds sleep at?  Where do bears sleep?  Do they have blankets or does the fur keep them warm?  Birds don't have fur.  They have feathers."   I exhale and feel ridiculous.  "Yep, they do have feathers." 

I feel blessed beyond words to see faith develop in children.  And when I say "develop", this is really just inaccurate.  My own faith is developing because while a child just takes it as it is, I have questions that somebody has to answer.  Anxiety.  Fear.  Pessimism.  Anger.  Stupidity.  It all gets in the way.  Chase, on the other hand just blows me away every time.  Chase has much to teach me.

Luke 18:15-17: People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”