Jesus Simplified

Last Saturday was a mommy/daughter day spent shopping. I wasn't sure Lydia would last all day, but she said she was up for the challenge. Our mission...Groceries and Christmas... It was a perfect time for me to stroll her through the toy isles at Target and tell her nothing was off limits...she could put anything she wanted on her Christmas list. During this time of year for my Kindergartener is a little difficult though as she sees scary displays of ghosts, skeletins, monsters and cobwebs everywhere we go. Trying to explain to her the difference between real and make-believe becomes more and more difficult when the store displays look so real. Being bombarded with ghosts, spiders and vampires at school, we have had our daily discussions on our drives home. She finally looked at me while we were shopping and innocently asked if ghosts were real (again). I had to think, "How do I really want to answer this question? How real should I get?" I decided that she wanted more than a yes or no answer and told her that there was ONE REAL GHOST!!

Her eyes got big and she listened. I had her complete attention as I began to explain to her in the middle of the store about the Holy Ghost. She was captivated. I told her that God sent us the Holy Ghost to comfort us and to help us. "What does comfort mean?", she asked. "Well, honey, it's kind of like the Holy Ghost makes you all warm inside and makes you happy!", I replied. "It's a good thing!"

Our conversation was over and days passed. While we were on the bus Monday, headed to our Corn Maze field trip, I overheard Lydia telling her classmate about the Holy Ghost. "He is the ONLY real ghost, and he makes you warm inside!!", she exclaimed. "Do you want to be warm inside?", she asked. "Your coat can keep you warm too", she explained, "but not on the inside! Only the Holy Ghost can keep you warm on the inside!"

As I listened to their conversation and seeing the little evangelist in my daughter, I realized how we as adults can make life difficult. How we can make our relationship with our Jesus difficult. How we can make understanding something so simple, so hard. Why is that, when Jesus tells us to be like the little children? Go back to your childhood...Did you ever worry about transportation? How about the mortgage? Did you worry about your next meal or your clothes? No! Because someone always provided for you. It is the same with our Heavenly Father. In Matthew 6:25-34 He tells us not to worry, that He will provide. In Mark 10:14-16, He plainly tells us to have child-like faith, then He blessed the children.

Don't make mountains out of mole hills. Throw your theology and religion out the door, and simplify. Don't complicate your relationship with Jesus...for this is Jesus, simplified.

Janice