Faith Like a Child

Cade amazes me daily.  He is at this crazy growing and learning stage.  He takes everything in and everything very seriously.  We have grounded him in a life of faith from early on.

Tuesday was a hard day in the Robbins house.  We had to put down our dog, Muffin.  She was suffering and I knew the cold that is starting now would have done her in.  It was selfish of me to not let her get peace.  So, I set out Tuesday night to try and explain what was going to happen to Muffin.  After some talking, Cade told me that "Muffin was going to live with Jesus and that when she got younger, she would come back to live with us."  WOW.... then he added "since Jesus is in my heart, Muffin is in my heart too."  I love my little boy.  I still don't know if he totally "understands" that Muffin is never coming back but he knows Muffin was sick and went to be with Jesus.  (No matter what your theology, that is what i believe in my heart of hearts).

The faith things he comes up with amaze me.  A year ago we started really reinforcing praying before bed and reciting prayers.  Every night he recites "Now I lay me" and then goes on to a string of people in his life he wants to bless.  The night Muffin died he added, "Jesus, take care of Muffin because I am gonna miss her very much."  I melted.

After prayers, we make the sign of the cross on his forehead and say, "Cade, you are a child of God sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever and I love you."  If we forget or are in a rush one night, Cade is quick to remind us.  Alot of times he also does the same to his various stuffies that he sleeps with.

The Bible says that we should have faith like a child.  I think we get caught in overthinking things.  We get caught in the parts of the world that truly takes us from God.  We get stuck in the ruts of reality and forget the pure joy that comes with faith like a child.

May each of us during this Advent season remember that all the extra stuff doesn't matter.  Help us to each have faith like a child.

AMEN