Lessons Taught By a Five Year Old

Once again, I have to admit, I've been taught a very important lesson by a five year old.  I know God uses children in so many ways.  Working with children on a daily  basis has opened my eyes to so much that I probably wouldn't think about otherwise.  It sounds strange I know, but yet so true.  The last few days has shown me so much.  I have been reading how to become a wife after God's heart and I feel like that is just a step into the right direction; however it seems like everything I do, hear, or see is about seeking God and putting him first in my life lately...the last two movies I watched, spending the day with Eli and hearing things he says, and even hearing my students at school say things...it all reminds me to put God first in my life and all else will fall into place.  I have been praying for months now that Jason would take a step into being the spiritual leader in our household.  Here lately God has been answering those prayers.  A few nights ago, I cut my finger in a paper cutter.  Not thinking much of it, I told Eli and Jason about it after they got home from wrestling practice.  That night, during family prayer time, Jason asked who wanted to pray first.  Eli who usually prays last every time wanted to pray first.  When he started to pray, he first thanked God "for this beautiful day and fun at wrestling practice."  He remembered to give God praise first.  Then he started praying for my cut...praying that it would feel better and go away.   He didn't pray about himself or something he wanted. Instead he prayed for me.  It felt so good inside knowing he prayed for me and didn't just pray but wanted to pray first so that he could pray about what was on his heart.  How often do we first pray about ourselves and what we want, but not only that we a lot of times put prayer off to the side...either pray quickly to get it over with, or stop because we get distracted?  It seems so often we put God second in our lives.  Yes, he's a part of our lives, but not first.

Yesterday at work, on the playground, a student who is usually very quiet and well behaved, went up to the top of the slide seeing something that was not Christlike and instead of ignoring it or walking away, he asked the other students, "Is that being like Jesus? Would Jesus do that?"  I was shocked to hear him ask that question.  Our number one rule in our class is to be like Jesus in all we do or say and this child reminded the other students of how they were acting.  He knew what those students were doing was not nice and he was able to stop the actions.  How often us as adults see things in this world and in our community going on and yet do nothing to stop it.  I know there are things I have more control over and yet don't think twice about it or think I'm not big enough or "good" enough to say anything or try anything to take care of that situation. In Jeremiah 1:7 it says, "Don't say, 'I'm too young,' for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you." God has plans for all of us no matter what our size or age.  I recently taught my students about David and Goliath.  David was a tiny man compared to Goliath, but yet he stepped out into faith, knowing God would help him defeat Goliath. It didn't matter his size because he trusted God.  We need to be more like David and trust God to help us step out into faith and do the things that seem impossible because none of us are inadequate in God's eyes.  He can and He will use each one of us if we say, "Here I am Lord, send me."  Isaiah 6:8.  Eli and I heard the song "God of this City." by Christ Tomlin in the car today on the way out to Poseyville and we started talking about the line "greater things are still to be done in this city." It was so neat to talk to a 5 year old about how God uses people to help accomplish his goals.  I believe that greater things are really going to happen in this city.  I believe God will and is currently using people now in this city for greater purposes.   Eli and I talked about how God can even use us and someone as young as him to spread the good news and tell others about Him.  We talked about his uncles who may not believe and how we have to pray for them so they can go to heaven and be in heaven with us some day.  He even said he wanted his Uncle Corey and Uncle Jeremy and all his other uncles to know God so they could go to heaven with him.  Then he reminded me how God was an artist and made all the clouds and fields and tractors and a healer like a doctor and a teacher and a fireman because he helps people, etc.  I am pretty sure Eli named off every profession there was and gave a reason for most of them as to why God was that.At first he talked about how he didn't like driving all the way out to Fred and Marsha's but by the time we were almost to Moto Mart, he started making comments about how he enjoyed riding there because he got to see so much that he doesn't normally see like all the tractors and, "Jason Schmitt has a combine!!!! I didn't know that!"  I had to laugh because God used even that 40 minute car ride, that seems like eternity for a 5 year old child to bring out how amazing He is and conversations that wouldn't normally come up in a 15 minute car ride across town.

To end this whole lessons taught by a five year old, I wanted to mention one other story that spoke to me more than any of the above was tonight as we were watching previews to a movie that we were about to watch, Eli said to my 7 year old cousin, a question that we constantly drilled in him last year, "Do you know why we celebrate Christmas?" Then before he gave time for my cousin to answer, he answered so knowingly, "It's God's birthday! We celebrate his birthday on Christmas!"  And my cousin excitedly turned around to me and Jason and asked, "Is it really God's birthday?!!" Of course we explained how we celebrate Jesus' birthday on Christmas and went into a little bit more detail probably not as much as we could have or now looking back feel like should have, but it was an open door and conversation that was started by a five year old wanting to share about God.  Just think if we were all that eager to share the Good News?!?! If each of us shared who He is to at least one other person.  With the holidays coming up, I am challenging myself to be bold like Eli and to share my faith with at least one other person if not more than one  even if it's a simple question like, "Do you know why we celebrate Christmas?" I drill in my students so often to share about Christ with others who don't know him or don't attend church somewhere, but yet how often do I follow through with what I teach my students? How will I spend my holiday season this year?  Will I put up all the Christmas decorations and trees etc? Will I go Christmas shopping for all my loved ones? Will I share the gift of eternity with a loved one? Will I celebrate Christmas how I always have? Will I add a birthday cake to my desert list? Will I add a nativity set to my decorations? Will I tell the story of Jesus' birth to Eli and the other children in my life? Will I give to someone in need this year? These are all questions that I have thought about...that are important in my family.  I know these were some of the traditions, I have always dreamed of doing with my children some day, but why not start now.  I have been praying for my future children; however, I have Eli now and family members now that I can share with and do these traditions with now.   Last year, before we opened gifts, we read the story of Jesus' birth and then sung happy birthday to Him and enjoyed a piece of cake.  It may have not seemed relevant then, but hearing Eli tell another child about what Christmas is really about, proved it hit home for him! I am so excited about keeping this a tradition in my family and with my future children. I pray that some day, they too, will share with other children why we celebrate Christmas!

God of This City
By: Chris Tomlin
Verse 1.
You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You Are

You're the light in this darkness
You're the hope to the hopeless
You're the peace to the restless
You are

Bridge:
For there is no one like our God
There is no one like You God

Chorus 1:
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here

Verse 2:
You're the Lord of Creation
The Creator of all things
You're the King above all kings
You Are

You're the strength in our weakness
You're the love to the broken
You're the joy in the sadness
You Are

Bridge:

Chorus 2:
For greater things have yet to come
Greater things are still to be done
In this city
When glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for You and love for You
In this city

Greater things have yet to come
Greater things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here


"Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:3
The LORD replied, "Don't say, 'I'm too young,' for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you." Jeremiah 1:7