Heart of a Child

My children are still pretty young. Corbin is my oldest and he won't be five for a couple more months. So I'm sure you can imagine how sometimes it feels as though the hard work I put into training them seems like it just insn't sinking in. Then there are the rare moments when Corbin will make a comment or say something in his prayer that seems so mature for his age. And suddenly I realize all that work is worth it!

This morning we were talking to Corbin about how you must change on the inside before you can permanently have a change on the outside... a 'heart change'. To help a four year old understand this I tried to explain how only God can change our hearts, so we need to ask Him to soften our hearts and make us moldable. I gave a brief example of the difference between playdough and a rock hoping he would comprehend how one can be made into anything you want and the other can't be changed no matter how hard you squeeze.

We were transitioning into a little worship time, so we asked him if he would like to pray beforehand. And then it happened. My sweet, little son opened his mouth and out came some of the most beautiful, genuine words I've ever heard him say... "Thank you, Jesus, for today. Help us to have soft hearts like playdough so You can make us what You want us to be..." *sigh*

Then there's my darling, Hayden. She loves music! She often raises her hands when singing to Jesus as she dances around and around. My husband and I had a conversation recently about how we contemplated whether or not it was ok to allow them to 'mimic' us whether it be in prayer or the way we worship. While some may frown upon this behavior, I think it's more important for our children to see our faith in action and know it's real. Our children will naturally do and say as we have done. I would rather my children minic how I pray or worship and not fully understand the meaning behind it right now than grow up thinking I didn't do those things at all.

What about you? Are you timid about openly expressing your love to Christ when you worship? Do you pray under your breath or always recite rote prayers rather than being real and transparent with the Lord? If our desire is to see our children know Jesus as Savior and live their lives wholeheartedly surrendered to Christ above anything else, they will need to see that type of abandon from us first. Don't you want them to know you are a safe place when they have questions about their faith? Let's be intentional teachers leaving no doubt in their minds about Who is number one in our lives!

Let's embrace our heritage :)

Mat 18:1-5"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me..."