This I Know
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 (NIV)
I cannot recall a time in my life when I was not in church and Sunday school. From my earliest days, I remember being part of a Christian education program. The little songs we sang are still etched in my mind and heart (even though my vocal cords won’t cooperate). Karen Sargent (Mornings with Jesus) shares a warm message that could be a memory for any of us.
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My four-month-old granddaughter, Olivia, does not take after me. I adore naps. She fights sleep with every ounce of her tired little body cradled in my arms. I sway back and forth. She blinks long and slow. Just as her eyes close, pop! She looks at me with a sleepy grin. When she begins to squirm and fuss, I pull out my Mimi magic. “Jesus loves me, this I know,” I sing. Olivia watches my lips and listens to my voice. Eventually, she falls asleep.
As I repeat the words of the song over and over, I think of a man whose name I cannot recall. He took his family to church, then picked up my brother and me for Sunday school. Afterward, he drove us home and returned to church for service.
I remember sitting on a green wooden bench my first time in Sunday school, singing, “Jesus loves me, this I know.” I didn’t know who Jesus was, but somehow my four-year-old heart knew the words were true. Eventually, someone invited my mom to a Bible study, and she accepted Jesus. My brother and I raised our families in church, and now my grandchild spends Sunday mornings in the nursery.
I wish I could tell that man about the generational and eternal impact his sacrificial act of kindness had on two kids he didn’t even know. Someday, in the Kingdom of Heaven, I will.
Loving Lord, thank You for letting our little ears hear those words when we were children. Help us never to forget them and to pass them on to future generations. AMEN.