This Easter I bought Resurrection Eggs.  Since the girls are a little older and I knew they would enjoy opening each egg to see the little surprise/symbols (that tell of the events leading up to Christ’s death and resurrection) I thought it would be fun.  A small booklet came with the egg set which in my opinion did an excellent job of explaining each part of the story with simplicity while incorporating the gospel in a very clear way.  As predicted the girls loved opening each egg and guessing what each little item meant.  As I read the parts of the story that went with each symbolic item the girls grew impatient and fidgety.  But they were quiet and I forced myself to read the entire book.  With Olivia being only two years old I was wondering how much she was even listening to or taking in. But the next day was Easter.  And at breakfast we asked the girls what was significant about this holiday.  Ellie said, ‘Because Jesus died on the cross.’

‘Yes,’ Sears replied, ‘but after he died they buried him and three days later what was in the tomb?’ Olivia then spouted out with enthusiasm, ‘Nothing, it was empty!’ ‘Woah,’ I thought.  ‘She was actually listening!’

But it got me thinking later that day about our goals as parents in teaching our children.  I know it’s my job to teach and ‘admonish’ our children in the Lord.  And I’m not diminishing the importance of teaching our children Bible stories and verses.  It’s also one thing to know facts, verses, and the books of the Bible.  But it’s an entirely different thing to have those facts and truths come alive in your heart.  To have the ability to discern Truth from lies, to see the world as it really is and not the way our sin has made it.  And to allow Truth to penetrate the deepest parts of our soul.  And only God has the power to do this in the hearts and minds of our children.  We can find peace in this verse: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, andthey will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  John 10:27-28

My goal for my kids is not that they are Bible trivia wizards or gold medalists in AWANA’s.  But that they would be sheep that hear the voice of the Great Shepherd and follow.

I had a little ‘incident’ with Olivia earlier today.  She is currently a little over two years old which puts her right at the perfect age for wanting to do almost everything by herself but unable to actually do anything by herself.  So she was trying to put shoes and clothes on a large size Tinkerbell doll.  She was not having much success.  When I asked her if she wanted any help the answer was an emphatic ‘NO!’  I just kept doing what I was doing, curious to see how long it would take her stubborn will to give in.  After about five minutes she finally asked me to help her.  And of course, we got the clothes on the doll in no time.  After which she took the clothes off again and attempted to put them on one more time, as if maybe this time it would work.

This got me thinking about myself and my Father.  My stubborn, independent will waits for a very long time to even talk to God about certain issues in my life.  Without much forethought I just attempt to solve problems or issues in my life without acknowledging Christ at all.  And then when I realize that I don’t know best, or even close to what’s best, I will finally take it to the throne of grace where I should have gone in the first place.  It’s easy to see the folly of a young child.  But we ignore it in ourselves most of the time, at least I do…