We’d taken our daughter’s family on a picnic at an historical sight fifty miles from her town. I rode with my daughter and oldest granddaughter in one car. Kev took the younger two kids in his car. We’d gotten separated on the trip home, and since Kevin didn’t have a cell phone, we had no way to communicate.
I hated to break my word to the kids that I’d take them for ice cream after lunch. So we prayed that somehow God would help us find Kevin and the others. He didn’t disappoint us.
“Thanks for waiting,” I hollered from my open window. “Shall we go for ice cream after all? We only lost ten minutes or so.”
“Sure,” Kev said, “we’ll meet you at Braum’s.”
When we settled around our favorite booth in the corner, two-year-old Alyssa grinned wider than a sugar cone. “I’m happy for ice cream,” she chirped.
Kev said around bites of Chocolate Chunk Surprise, “Yeah, Daniel was pretty worried that we wouldn’t find you, and we’d have to go home with no ice cream. Not Alyssa! She kept saying over and over, “We WILL go for ice cream; we WILL find Grandma and Mommy and Jenessa; we ARE going for ice cream.””
I raised my eyebrows and patted my little girl’s back. “Wow, Alyssa, you spoke your faith like Jesus did when He stilled the storm and raised Lazarus from the dead. I’m impressed.” “Well, she believed you’d keep your word to her, and was encouraging herself, even when the circumstances looked like it was impossible,” said Kev.
“I need to take faith lessons from Alyssa,” I said. “When things don’t look like they’re going to happen the way God said, I worry and fret. Only I call it “being concerned.” But it’s the same thing; I doubt if God will come through for me like He told me He would. I need to be more diligent about saying, “God WILL take care of me. The Lord WILL help me, heal me, provide for me, just like He said. He WILL walk with me and give me victory.”
Alyssa took her last lick as I finished preaching to myself and answered, “And, the Lord WILL tell Gramma to take us for ice cream, every time you visit!”
Oh, to have the faith of a child…
Have you ever had a child teach you a lesson you'd forgotten?
Jen,
ReplyDeleteHow inspiring. I know I get tangled in the adult world of "what if" and all that other nonsense. God IS true to His word and He IS faithful. So glad to have the little ones remind us!
Blessings,
Karen
Oh my, yes! One of my favorite moments was with three toddlers in carseats in the back of a minivan, driving home from church. Hubby and I were arguing, and the argument was escalating. Daughter suddenly hollers from the back, "Where there is strife there is confusion and every evil work! Stop fighting!" I think she was about 4-5, repeating verbatim what she had heard day in and day out when she and her little brothers squabbled.
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say, we were humbled, and not only had to repent to God, but apologize to our tots.
Was it John or Paul who said, "I have no greater joy than to know that my children walk in the truth."
Blessings,
Niki
I totally understand when Jesus said, "If you have the faith of a child...." My children taught me so many lessons when they were small. I miss those days now as that childlikeness is gone.
ReplyDeleteChildlike faith, I often pray for that!! Thanks Jeanette, lovely post!
ReplyDeleteHa, I bet Gramma WILL take them for ice cream everytime. Smile...A child shall lead them.
ReplyDeleteGreat story, Jen. Thanks
I always learn the lesson of presence when watching or being with children. Even when at the playground, and mom has put a time limit of how long they can stay, the children to do not fret about the little time they have, but play with abandonment for the time they do have. Lovely post, J. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYour grandkiddo knows her grandma loves her and will do right by her.
ReplyDeleteI'm learning to trust my Heavenly Father day by day. How often do we pray and then keep worrying?
Niki: Love that story! Aren't you glad you preached to them, so it could come back to help you keep strife out? HA!
ReplyDeleteYes. Remember Y2K? A lot of my friends were getting generators, just in case. My son said that he didn't think we would need one, that I was being silly. The Lord whispered to me, "sometimes your children hear from heaven."
ReplyDeleteWe didn't get the generator.
precious story with a fabulous message to us all! oh to have the faith like your little grandbaby!
ReplyDeleteChildren have such an uncomplicated approach to life and faith, don't they? When our youngest grandchild's old dog died it was a traumatic loss. The dog had always been a part of her life. On a recent visit to our house she stood stroking the head of our dog (the same breed) and said wistfully, "I miss my Ebby." Then she added, "But God's taking good care of her so we don't have to worry 'bout her. She's safe and happy." She gave our dog a hug and skipped off to play. Oh, to have that attitude those times when I'm dealing with grief of my own!
ReplyDeleteThis is why I hang out with a darling 2 year old - every Friday.
ReplyDeleteFondly,
Glenda
LOL I love your grandaughter's wisdom!
ReplyDeleteYes! Oh, yes - many times, some of which you've heard about. :)
ReplyDeleteI often forget how to play and have fun. My little nieces and nephews remind me of the importance of that all the time!
ReplyDeleteoh, I love seeing the world and faith through my almost three-year-old.
ReplyDeleteoops...I should have proof read;) I meant to say I love seeing the world through my almost three-year-old son's eyes. :) It's getting late;)
ReplyDelete