A Child's-Eye View

Recently our 3-year-old granddaughter came to our house for a nap before her dance and tumbling class.  When she balked at naptime, I called her mom on the phone for suggestions – a wise, experienced mom who suggested to her little cherub that she wind down for her nap by telling herself a story.  Instead of THINKING a story, which could have been introspective and calming, her story ended up being loudly vocalized as if with a microphone!  I made note of the content at the time, in order to remember.  It went something like this:

"Once upon a time....once upon a time (twirling the legs of her stuffed kitty cat)....God....and Jesus....were up in heaven, and then God said to Jesus, why don't you go to earth and save the people from their sins? (pause) Only first, Jesus had to die on the cross.  So Jesus went to earth and was borned there like a baby, and then he died on the cross to save the people from their sins.  And then, THREE DAYS LATER He…(three verbal noises here, like "bop, bop, bop") He came to life again!  And He went back up to heaven with God, and that's when He was a great high preeee.....what's the word?.....priest!  Forever!  And ever and ever!  And that's the end of that story."

She did fall asleep.  Eventually. 

After her nap, she selected corn flakes and milk as a snack.  While slurping away, Khumili - our sponsored child from India of the Dalit/Untouchable class - entered the conversation.  We’d talked about her before, so I wasn’t too surprised. 

Josie: “Mmmmm….this is good cereal.”  Looking at the picture on the refrigerator: “What does Ka-mee-lee have for a snack?”

Me: “Probably nothing. She probably doesn’t have snacks. But I’m pretty sure Khumili never has had corn flakes and milk, EVER.”

Josie: “Then we should send her some.” (nodding vigorously)

Me: “That might be hard to do – she lives on the other side of the world.”

Josie: (stares into space, processing this fact) “But….but we could use a….a airplane.” (appears both thoughtful and hopeful while licking milk from her spoon)

Me: “True, very true, good thinking!  But it’s not that easy.  We’d need help getting it to her because she lives really far away from any airports.”

Josie: “Oh.”  (pauses for more processing)  “Does she have very many toys?”

Me: “I doubt if she has any toys at all.”

Josie:  “Then we should send her some toys, too.”

Me: (not wanting to squelch her enthusiasm, but feeling the need to be realistic) “That’s a really great idea, but I’m not sure it’s possible right now.”

Josie: (with a shout and extended arms, like a cheerleader) “God!”

Me: “What?”

Josie: “It’s something for GOD to do!”

Me: “He could make it happen, you’re right.” (somehow she’d internalized Matthew 19:26 – “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”)

Josie: “GOD!” (repeats her declaration with certainty, shakes head affirmatively, and finishes her cereal with great relish, flinging her spoon as if in emphasis)

Me: “The really great news is that Khumili and her family are learning more and more about God - they feel He is drawing them close to Him.  In her letters to me she says she prays to Him often.”

Josie: (without hesitation and matter-of-factly) “Then He will hear her.  I know He will.” 

At that, she hopped down from her chair and dashed into the living room to get ready for dance class.  With very little help (she’s quite independent) she changed into her new lavender leotard and white tights, and I stuck a tiny pair of new white ballet slippers into her bag. 

The class went as usual, soliciting bright-eyed smiles amidst the thrill brought about by emerging skills.  She loved being expressive in a full-bodied way, and her face reflected a quality of unfettered alive-ness most of us would covet.

Through her eyes, all was well. All would continue to be well.  She had no reason to doubt, fear, or question.  And she was right.  Despite what seems wrong, despite all our adult clutching and groaning, despite our sophisticated but ineffective ways of trying to tame ourselves, each other, and our surroundings and circumstances, God is ultimately in control of planet earth and all that is happening here – in her life, and mine, and yours.

As I watched Josie prancing around with the others in the class, I couldn’t help but cherish my earlier conversation with her and cherish the evidence of an ever-developing body, soul, and spirit.  Exemplary growth.  Inspiring growth when seen from more static-and-stuck-in-place adult perspective.