by contributing writer Kristin L. Nelson, author of Not Alone Mom.
My daughter (just under 3years) and I started a new tradition. Early in the morning when she gets up, while her brother is sleeping, we sit on the couch and read her Jesus Calling Bible Storybook for children. I love this book! It takes kids through all the great stories of the Old and New Testament, making each story easy for little ones to understand without watering down the message. It’s wonderful!
On our first morning we sat down to read about the beginning and “God’s Big Plan,” we read about God creating the heavens and the earth, the animals, and Adam and Eve. We finished by reading about “Adam and Eve’s Big Mistake” and how God said, “Don’t eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. If you eat the fruit, you will die.”
We read about God’s enemy Satan and that Satan is evil and “he always wants people to do bad things.” We read about Satan coming into the garden pretending to be a snake and that he lied to Eve saying, “You won’t die. If you eat this fruit, you will learn about good and evil, and you will be like God.” We read about Eve choosing to listen to him instead of God; and Adam did too. And how this act immediately changed everything and “made God sad”.
We turned the page to finish up with how this decision changed everything and God sent them away from the Garden, but that “God had a plan. He would come to earth as a baby and grow to be a man who would defeat Satan and rescue God’s children. Jesus would be His name.”
This Bible storybook is so powerful! It speaks truth to kids on their level.
When we finished this portion, I was ready to talk with my little girl to see how much she understood. I didn’t expect a full book report from a child who isn’t even three, but I didn’t want to underestimate her level of understanding, either. Children have a way of surprising us that way. So I simply asked her what she thought.
What happened next both shocked me and touched my heart on a deep level.
A serious look formed on her face and she got up from the couch like she was on a mission. She sat the book on our foot rest, and turned back to the page with the scenario in the Garden. She then looked at me with a fiery passion and sense of urgency saying, “I have to jump in the book!”
“What?” I asked.
“I have to jump in the book and get the apple. I have to put it back on the tree!!” she proclaimed loudly. (She watches a lot of Super Why, a show where superhero kids jump in books to change the outcome if the character is being naughty, e.g. when Pinocchio lies, they jump in to teach him to tell the truth!)
WOW… I had a feeling I knew where this was going so I prompted her more, “Why do you need to put the apple back in the tree, honey?”
“Because God said ‘No, No’!” she replied.
“That’s right sweetie, God said ‘no’ but Adam and Eve didn’t listen to God, did they?” I asked.
With an irritated look forming on her face she answered, “No… naughty snake!”
Feeling more and more proud I continued, “That’s right! That naughty snake Satan lied to them and told them to eat the apple even though God said ‘No’! What should they have said to that naughty Satan?”
Her response is a powerful statement we should all take to heart!
She stood up tall, looked me right in the eyes and said boldly, “Shush! Be quiet!”
A statement so simple yet a proclamation that speaks volumes! An approach we could all benefit from!
The devil is out to bring us down, “he prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour” 1 Peter 5:8. He is happy when he pulls us backward from what God has planned for us. He is happy when he uses our own thoughts, insecurities, and fears to keep us from moving forward!!
What can we take away from this precious account of a “child like faith?” There is no reason to debate with the enemy. When he speaks lies into our lives, we simply need to say to him, “Shush! Be quiet!” In other words – you’re a liar Satan! And I know the truth!
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Psalm 18:2. His name is JESUS! And you, Satan, have already been defeated! So just – shush!
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me…for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
Everyday, my son teaches to have faith in myself , in others, and most especially with my God. He reminds me the blessings of being steadfast, pure, simple and generous. He makes me remember this when I am so low, ““The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.”
This is great! We really can learn so much through the eyes of a child and what a wonderful reminder of that. Thanks so much for sharing! ~ Hannah
Beautiful. I love how children, before they are pressured to change by society and at-home, they always seem to know the truth. Life is back and white to them – no shades of grey where we, as adults seem to lose ourselves. Thanks for posting!
Lynette, you are so right! I’m surprised as my kids get older how much they soaked in when they were young. It’s encouraging to be challenged by them!
Thanks Lynette! You are absolutely right… kids are amazing… one of the many reasons Jesus asks us to be “like children”… 🙂 Glad you enjoyed this post… It is one that I will remember forever. Blessings! Krissy
I love the simple profundity of a child! No wonder the Word makes multiple references to children and faith.
I’m amazed as my kids get older how much they picked up in these formative years. Pouring into little ones is so important! Thanks, Marian!
Right on Marian! It’s a great reminder to us adults to get back to the basics and remember what it’s all about – His love for us! We love because He first loved us… Children seem to get that better than we do at times… Thanks for your comment! Blessings! Krissy