Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

To have an audience with a 3-year-old is a TREAT, talk to them and then you are going to learn something. 

I was resting from many hours of yard work and drove down to my friend’s house to dig up a blueberry bush, gifted from her imminent move. I dug it (there are already blueberries on it!) then resting some more, a car pulls up in the driveway. A man came to look at ladders for sale (this house has a HUGE garage and this upcoming weekend is a garage sale worthy of calling it a garage sale!). Well, right behind him comes not one but two then three cutest little girls, cute cute cute. I am glad that my pausing begat watching this parade of spunky little cute girls. Each child is precious in God’s eyes and ours too.

The dad went into the garage with my friend and the girls asked “do you live here?” – “No, I’m a friend from church”, I replied. I explained that I was the helper that day and clicked into Sunday school teacher mode when they said: “we go to church too”, conversing especially with the 3 yr old and 4 yr old who were intensely interested in the cat. I appreciated the time to watch the wonderful wondering of their minds. 

The two youngest had been touching everything all over the patio, stones and trinkets, and intrigued by the pond frogs, and well, using the top of the statue of Mary, her head, to steady themselves while traipsing the balance beam of the garden edging. 

Of the youngest, 3 yrs old, I asked: “do you know who that statue is? It’s Mary. Do you know who Mary was the mom to? gave birth to? in the Christmas story?” 

A quick, no pause answer came from her mouth (and surely the Holy Spirit): “GOD?” … yes, she said “God” with a 3yr old’s inquiring and reassuring comfort… Yes, pleased as praise, I confirmed “Yes, God…”  I can still hear the resonance of that wonderful sound of God’s name from the young babe but old soul.

There was no time for a philosophical conversation about the Holy Trinity, Jesus being God and man, simply she gave an answer to satisfy: “God”… and I thanked the Lord for the girls’ church leaders and teachers, their parents, for all who teach 3 yr olds who then can encourage us with faith. God knows and loves us well before we are born – and we are but to unearth the rich jewels of the Fruit of HIS Labor, like the blueberries to come – they are fruits to be harvested when ready – like the spirit-led thoughts that come out of our souls.

God Loves Little Children, these little children are tomorrow’s teachers, leaders, parents, and forever children of God. Knowing God is first, knowing about God is next, and knowing the stories will confirm their knowledge base. This is where I remind you that summer is upon us and vacation bible school is a GREAT way to teach little ones, and reinforce the Bible messages in yourself. There is nothing greater than to help raise up a child of God – in each of us.

God blesses these little children, and us too.

May we all know how God searches us for His Knowledge, then speak it from the mouth of a 3 year old…

Amen 

—

Psalm 139 NIV
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
    Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.