Faith of my Grandchildren ...

"Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3  

            Jesus says that we must become like little children in our faith. Whatever does that mean? That means we need to have complete TRUST in God. My grandchildren have taught me this like no one else.

Matthew & Angela's Vanessa 

            I was over at my son, Matthew's home and his daughter Vanessa age 3 was hiding in their family tree fort-wanting me to come find her. As I approached the tree fort, which is about 7-8 feet high I called out to her and to my surprise, she just jumped into my arms. Fortunately staggering and surprised I not only caught her but managed to stay standing on my feet at the same time.

As I was holding her in my arms and looking into her eyes, I said, "Vanessa, you shouldn't ever do that."

"Why Opa," she asked.

I responded, "I could have dropped you."

            She took her little hands put them on my cheeks and said very tenderly, "Opa you would never drop me!"

            As I stared into her sweet, trusting, little eyes, I could see, she was dead serious. She KNEW and BELIEVED and TRUSTED that I would never drop her. That is the faith of a child. Is that the kind of faith you have in God? Are you like Vanessa knowing that your Heavenly Father would never drop you? Lord help us to be as this little child. BELIEVING and TRUSTING that You Lord will never drop us!!

            My other son Andrew, his father in law, gave Andrew's children a little Model T car that he had as a little boy. It was almost 50 years old and not operating. I offered to get it operable for my two grandsons birthdays. They just frolicked with this new toy driving it here and there. They thought they were big stuff driving that Model T all around their property. Getting it stuck, pulling it out and giving Grace their little sister special rides. Then one day the engine would not start.

            The children asked their father, "Call Opa over and fix it!. Opa can fix anything." Andrew laughed and called me. So I brought my portable tool case, pulled up a little stool and was peering in at the little Briggs and Straton engine. Accompanying me were 3 little heads staring at the same engine. Landon age 8, Jesse age 6 and Grace age 3. Each with their own suggestions on what was probably wrong filled my ears. I tinkered with this and that to no avail. They turned their little heads up to look at me and asked me no less than 1,000 questions. I'd pick up a tool, they'd each choose a tool and all 3 played little mechanic in the engine space to help Opa fix it. I wondered if my tool case would ever be the same.

Then it dawned on me. I don't think I can fix it. I don't think I know what is wrong here. I sat back looked into their inquiring little faces and said sadly, "I don't think I can fix it."

            Almost in unison they responded, "Oh Opa you can fix anything."

            I thought to myself. They really believe I can fix anything. There is absolutely no question in their mind that Opa can fix ... anything. You should have seen their faces, their eyes, their expression, and their confidences. I petitioned God earnestly, "Help me not disappoint these little ones. You know what is wrong Lord. Impress my mind and direct my hands that I may not loose their confidence."

            That was when I noticed that the choke was not only stuck shut but the screws holding the carburetor in place were loose. It didn't take me 5 minutes and these kids again heard the little purr on the Briggs and Straton engine when I pulled the starting cord.   Then they looked at me and with the faith of a child and said, "We knew you could fix it Opa. We just knew!!"

            God can fix your situation, whatever it is, however bad it is. He is Sovereign over everything. He can fix anything, anytime, anyplace, for any person.

            The simplicity, and the confiding love of a little child are the attributes that Heaven values. These are the characteristics of real greatness ... How do you measure up?

Learning from my grandchildren,

Jim