What Children understand...

What children understand...

Here is the story about Ethan.

"Having a 4 1/2 year old son that prays and asks Jesus to become of His Lord and Savior, can be somewhat vexing to a parent. But, Jesus did tell us that "suffer the little children not, for such as these is the kingdom of heaven" and "unless you have the faith of a child..." so upon the Word of God and feeling somewhat reassured by the story that Dr. James Dobson came to Christ at 4 years old, I trust the Lord, that my son has saving faith and "the tree shall be known by its fruit"

This next portion of the story is incredible fruitfulness from a five year old that most of us would do well to understand and do likewise, after all it was Jesus who said, "go and do likewise."

Ethan is a five year old kindergartener at Cherokee Christian School. In Mrs. Kirby's class if you disobey or misbehave you get a "black" talley by your name on the board. On the other hand, if you exhibit Christ-like behavior, you receive a "yellow" talley by your name. If on Friday, a student has only yellow tallies or no tallies, then they get a large, gold star to wear standing in car-pool line to show that they were a "Star Student" all week. The children are very competitive and of course, almost covet being a star student.

Ethan is a wonderful student, who every week gets a "star student" to wear home. Ella is a girl in class who has never got a star student. She always gets black tallies, normally starting early on Monday morning. Well, this particular week, Ella did not receive a black talley all the way until mid-morning on Friday (they go home at lunch time). The class was very aware of Ella's great week.

Then, disaster struck. Ella's old ways returned and she disobeyed Mrs. Kirby. Mrs. Kirby was greatly disappointed, and much against her feelings, followed her ordered rules and gave Ella a black talley. Ella was devestated, dissappointed and in despair tears began to run down her face.

Ethan, a five year old Christian told me, "Dad, I took Ella's black talley." "You did what!" I reprimanded him thinking that he snuck up and took the black talley down from the board. "No, it wasn't like that," he went on to explain. Well, what happened son, I asked him.

Dad, when Ella received that black talley, I felt so bad for her, I knew she was never a start student and she really wanted to be one. So, I raised my hand, and asked Mrs. Kirby if I could take her black talley. Mrs. Kirby said, "Ethan, do you understand what you are asking? you will get her black talley beside your name, and you will not get your star student award." "Yes, Mrs. Kirby, I've already been a star student, but, Ella never has, I want to take her black talley" replied Ethan. Then, Mrs. Kirby made Ethan walk to the board, take Ella's black talley from beside her name, remove the yellow tallies he had already received, and place her black talley beside his name.

Ella's tears turned to pure joy. Ethan, knew he had done right, and a tear rolled down Mrs. Kirby's face as she immediately thought of how Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, stepped out of heaven, and took all her black tallies upon his shoulders on the cross of Calvary.

Later, when Mrs. Kirby told us about this, tears welled up in her eyes as she stated that in her more than 25 years as a Kindergarten teacher, never had she seen such selfless sacrifice, and understanding of the Gospel from a five year old. Well done, Ethan.

What children understand...


(copyright, 2010, Alexander F. Vann)