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Throughout the day, I read your comments and my heart smiled again. I quipped to a friend, "I wonder if she'll even remember what she did this morning."
She got home from school and we checked her bag like we do every day.
"Ellie," I said, "Let's talk about what happened at the bus stop this morning."
"What thing, mom???"
"You know... the kids saying 'Oh my God'."
Her eyes grew wide and her face looked a little scared. "But Mom... I wasn't the one saying that. Really, I didn't. I love God. Really, Mommy, I do." The words gushed out... (Hmmmm, should I have begun this conversation differently?)
I stopped her and assured her that I knew she didn't say it. "Ellie, I'm proud of you for standing up for Jesus. I heard you tell the other kids that they were saying a bad word."
Startled, "You heard THAT?" (Ahhhh.... my mommy ears are now as powerful as those eyes in the back of my head.)
"I did hear that. You did a great job. I am proud of you."
"Oh... thanks... Mom, do you want to hear what happened to my friend at school today?"
There I was reveling in her big moment... What does she do? "Mom, do you want to hear what happened..."
Friends, my little girl's pure heart is absolutely challenging me this week! She did the right thing because she loves God. The end. No big deal. She didn't stand up to the other kids to gain approval -- she didn't even know I could hear her. She didn't stand up to the other kids just to prove a point -- she pointed out their error and didn't lecture or preach. Oh my gosh!!!!
What does my heart look like compared to that? Not great! I lecture and discuss far too much with my kids, when I should just state my case and let the holy spirit finish the job. I love to receive praise -- sure, God did it through me. But inside, I like that praise. I admit it.
Where's your heart, dear friends? Do you do the right thing because you think people are watching, or do you do it for Jesus? Do you do the right thing hoping for praise and recognition, or do you do it for Jesus?
And he said: "I tell you the truth,
unless you change and become like little children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
3 comments:
Ellie's response is so like a child. No big deal! May we all be big deals for Christ, and little deals for ourselves!
Wow. I hate to say it, but Ellie stood up for Jesus more boldly than I usually do! Talk about having faith like a child! I definitely have lessons to learn from her here. What an amazing daughter you've raised. :-)
This is post is so touching and true. I work in a before and after school program that is a ministry of a local church. We have a mixture of children some believe and other don't. I have seen so many great things out of the children, giving, caring, love for God. They are great examples!
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