It’s difficult to teach a three year old the truths of the Bible and what it means to sincerely live the life of a Christian. Last week, I had two challenging and amazing conversations with my daughter.
Scene 1: Location – Garage
My daughter is riding her bicycle and notices a wasp circling very close. She is frightened and alerts me. I carefully observe the wasp and swat it. To ensure it is dead, I step on the wasp and then continue browsing my catalog.
Daughter: Mommy, is it dead?
Mommy: Yes, baby.
Daughter: No, it’s not. It’s still alive.
She then asked could she ride over the wasp with her bicycle. I explained to her that would be a cruel way to treat God’s creature and the only reason I killed the wasp was because it threatened to harm her. Then I assured her again.
Mommy: Baby, it’s not alive. It can’t be dead and alive at the same time…
Hmmm… I thought to correct my statement with talks of the walking dead or the dead who are alive, but did not want to overwhelm her. Therefore, she resumed riding her bike and I resumed browsing my catalog. All was well in our world if only temporarily.
Scene 2: Location – Church service on Good Friday
My daughter is sitting on my lap at the end of the sermon. We are at the beginning of the line to receive the communion plate. The people in front of us take the bread, dip it in grape juice, eat it, and go on to pray. Mommy receives communion and my daughter does not. She is furious with me. Tears well up in her eyes. She thinks that I’m being a “meany” by not allowing her to receive a cracker. After the church service, we head to the car.
Mommy: Baby, that was not a cracker, that was the Communion of bread and wine, and what does that represent?
Daughter: The bread is the body and the wine (sometimes grape juice) is the blood of Jesus.
Mommy: That’s right and that’s why we celebrate Easter because we are thankful that Jesus sacrificed and died for us on the cross to forgive us of our sins and He rose again! Only those who have faith in Jesus and believe what he did on the cross can have Communion.
Daughter: I know, but I love Jesus and I believe that he died on the cross for my sins too.
Mommy: I know baby, I know. I’ll get you a snack when we get home.
Talking with my daughter reminded me of the importance of understanding my own beliefs and being able to articulate those beliefs to someone unaware or new to the Christian faith. These conversations also reminded me of the importance of teaching and challenging the understanding of a young person so that they gain confidence of what they believe.
Do you find it hard to share the gospel? What presents the most challenge when sharing your faith with others?
© Natasha S. Robinson 2011
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