Seeing the Grandness of the Son with a Grandson

Miriam and I just arrived back home this evening after a trip. We were gone several days to see our daughter's family in Kansas. On the way back, we reflected on the plane trip home over the blessing of being grandparents. We thoroughly enjoyed the time we were able to spend with three of our grandchildren. Max is almost 5, Jemma is 3 (we celebrated her third birthday while we were there), and Hazel is 1 (and already trying to say the words she hears).

Each day was filled with fun. How thankful we were to take them on walks or to a park, honor Jemma as a princess with her new costume that she received on her birthday, or sit on the couch and pretend my hands were gold-hungry dragons atop Dragon Lair Mountain as Max soared in with Buzz Lightyear to defeat them.

Yet - I say the following without exaggeration - truly the time that was most special was seeing their dad lead them in family worship each morning and evening. Hearing our dear grandchildren answer questions about the Bible, pray (or in Hazel's case at least fold her hands in imitation of her family), and sing God's Word made our hearts rejoice. Indeed, we experienced with them how the Lord's "faithfulness is to all generations" (Ps. 100:5).

One morning in particular stood out. The children quoted Romans 6:23 as part of the memory work from their church.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As I heard Max quote it from memory, I asked him if I could share with him a picture about this verse. With great curiosity, he said yes. So I proceeded to show him the bridge illustration pictured below, a tool someone used to reveal to me the gospel of Jesus Christ when I was in college and became a Christian.

My almost five year old grandson was transfixed. He kept asking me questions about the picture, and then had me draw it several times over. He carried the picture around, and showed it to others in the family and explained some of its concepts. He even took it with him to the park one day, saying he wanted to show it to others.

On the way home today, we received a text from our daughter. She told us that Max was sitting on the couch preaching to his sister Jemma. When we asked what he was saying, she quoted him stating the following:

Jemma, God is with you always. And with me, too! We can't see Him but He is with us and in our hearts. And if you believe in God you can go to heaven and be with Him always. He is with you always, always, always. He is our strength.

It almost goes without saying that our hearts melted and our eyes welled with tears as we read those words.

As the Psalter says, "From the mouths of infants young, you the pow'r of praise compose" (Ps. 8:2). What a blessing to hear our little grandson quoting - and even preaching about! - the grandness of the Son of God!

In this evil generation, may we not forget the simplicity and purity of the gospel. Sometimes it takes a little child to remind us of its wonder.