Even a Child

Happy Birthday, Ria,” was Grandma’s greeting to the vivacious girl who had turned seven recently. Instead of the expected, “Thank you, Grandma,” my grandchild promptly started to repeat the fourth commandment. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God” (Exodus 20:8–10, KJV). She was connecting her seventh birthday with the seventh-day Sabbath. I told her that the seventh day was very special to God, and now she was seven years old! She was special to God as well. He had created her, and she belonged to Him.

Later she called me and said, “Grandma, I have a prayer corner.” “Oh, yes?” I replied. “Do you want to see it?” she asked. And with that, she focused the camera on her phone toward the area she had designated for that purpose. “Very good, Ria. You must always remember to pray to God at all times,” I encouraged.

Another day, she called, and we spoke at length.

During our conversation, my little one said, “Grandma, I have given all to the Lord, even the clothes on my back.” I was touched immeasurably.

Jesus reads each child’s heart. In Luke 18:16, 17, He said, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein” (KJV). Dear God, I pray for all the children of the world—red and yellow, black and white.

Please, protect them from evil, from predators and the mean-spirited.

And in these difficult times, please, teach them to turn to You for strength to help them cope. Amen. God looks to us, parents and grandparents, to “train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6, KJV).

Hyacinth V. Caleb