Kids
ask all the big questions. Many times adults feel stumped
when asked to provide answers to questions that they,
too, still find challenging. Kids Talk About God,
written by seasoned religion reporter Carey Kinsolving,
allows children to stretch their minds to come up with
answers to the questions that fill them with wonder. The
column avoids preachiness or denominational dogma while
letting kids talk with humor, insight, innocence and honesty.
Sample
Column
THE
LOVE OF GOD REMINDS YOU OF WHAT?
"The
love of God reminds me of the fruits of the Spirit (love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control)," says Josh, 10. "God gives
us our fruits so that we may have good attitudes all day
long. Once we have given all our fruits, we get really
edible. All we have to do is ask God for more fruit."
Josh,
I'm afraid that sometimes when friends are looking for
peaches, strawberries or mangos from my life, they get
lemons.
"God's
love is when you come home from school, and your dog jumps
up and licks you," says Taylor, 7. No jumping up for Ann's
dog: "Love is when my dog jumps on me when I get home,"
says Ann, 7.
Whether
it's jumping up or on, dogs are the clear winners among
the animals nominated for best expressing God's love.
Although God is the master, I'm sure he would be glad
if our love and devotion to him were as wholehearted as
our dogs' seem to be for us. Instead of jumping on and
licking the faces of your relatives and friends, try a
little courtesy, gratitude and even a hug.
"Love
is patient," says Caroline, 7. "Love is kind. Love is
through the world all the time."
Try
around the world, says William, 9: "The love of God reminds
me of a circle because it never ends. It also reminds
me of a plane because it lifts me when I'm down. God's
love reminds me of a warm night by the fire because it
warms me."
Molly,
9, has another angle on warming up: "God's love reminds
me of a mother making cookies and hot chocolate when you
come in from playing in the snow."
Moms
show God's love in other ways, says Chris, 8: "God gave
my mom the will to help my dad to know God. My mom also
brought me to know God."
Is
there a greater gift of love a mother could give? The
gift that keeps on giving is eternal life.
Stacy's
mom knows how to make her feel special: "The love of God
reminds me of my mother because whenever she comes home
from work, she kisses me and says, 'I love you so much.'
My mom also prays for me every night. She also says I'm
her little angel."
Don't
forget Dad, says Ross: "The love of God reminds me of
my dad because he is hard-working downtown."
Downtown
or uptown, Alina, 9: "The love of God reminds me of a
birthday cake. The candles remind me when God lights the
way. The icing reminds me of how sweet He is and generous.
The bread part reminds me of the Last Dinner because they
had bread and wine."
Thanks,
Alina. A birthday cake will never look the same.
Justine,
9, looks back to the time before everyone's first birthday
for her lesson in God's love: "The love of God reminds
me of sweet baby faces that are soft and smooth. The love
of God is also parents who care, brothers, sisters and
grandparents who love you and cousins who like to play.
There's only one more thing I would like to say. The love
of God is Jesus!"
You
are so right, Justine. Many people think love is only
a feeling, but actually it's a person. The Bible says
"God is love," and the ultimate expression of love is
Jesus on the cross, says Andrew: "The love of God reminds
me of the cross because God had died on the cross for
our sins. And how badly He was hurting when He was hanging
on the cross for us."
