“When I go to heaven I’m going to take God a gift.” Melanie stated happily. We were on our way home from a birthday party and this had evidently started Melanie’s train of thought.
“Do you know the best gift you can give to God?” I asked and when told “no”, I answered “Yourself”. I explained what God wanted for each and every one of us in His world. I asked her if she understood and she replied, “Well, when I see Him I’m going to give Him a great big hug and kiss!”
“He’ll love that darling.” as I smiled broadly at the thought. Melanie, at seven years of age, is such an affectionate, loving child and I know that that is exactly what she would do.
I reflected on this conversation later and wondered if I would do the same?
No, I decided. I would probably stare in awe and feel totally inadequate in the face of His beauty and splendour. But wait, didn’t He feel that I was worthy of His love?
Yes, I decided, Melanie definitely had the right idea. She had not been taught to think this way, it came naturally to her but for those of us past our childhood, we have to learn once again to be childlike in receiving God’s love and His promises as we are told in Mark 10:13-16.
13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, o“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And she took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
And I think that this sometimes means being short in memory too. How much easier it would be to forget some of the things we’ve done just as children easily forget their own shortcomings.
And the more I thought about it, the more I realised that I, too, would love to give God a gift : a hug and kiss from me, an affirmation of my love for Him. And it took my young daughter to make me even think of it.
