Out of the Mouths of Babes

By Diane Stark

The meal was prepared and the table was set.  The only thing left to do was to remind my children that they were to be on their best behavior for Daddy’s big night.  One of my husband’s clients was coming for dinner, and we all recognized what an impact this evening could have on his business.  His business, and in turn, our lives.

I reminded my children of their table manners and requested, for just this one night, that they speak only if a grown-up spoke to them first.  All of the children agreed to mind their manners and be quiet.  Even Julia, my six-year-old chatterbox.

Moments later, my husband, Eric, arrived with his client.  He introduced me, and then our children.  The kids smiled and shook the man’s hand.

We sat down at the table and began to eat.  The man complimented me on the dinner I’d made.  I caught Eric’s eye and gave him a look that said, “So far, so good.”  And then it happened.

Julia got up out of her chair, walked over to my husband’s most important client, and said, “I’m a Christian.  Are you?”  The man’s eyebrows shot up.  He looked from my husband to me and back again. 

“Eric,” he said, “how did a child this young become so bold?”

I began to apologize profusely, scared sick that the man would be offended by Julia’s question.  I admonished her, telling her that we shouldn’t ask people something so personal.  But the man stopped me.

“I am both surprised and impressed by your daughter’s courage,” he said.  “Not many people have the guts to ask total strangers where they stand when it comes to issues of faith.”  The man’s eyes softened and he looked right at Julia.  “Yes, I am a Christian, and I can tell you’re going to do big things for His kingdom when you get older.”

The rest of the evening went off without a hitch.  I should have been thrilled, but somehow, I felt ashamed.

At bedtime, I opened my Bible, knowing that I owed Someone a big apology.  In Matthew 10:32, Jesus says that if we confess Him before men, He will confess us before His Father in Heaven.  But in verse 33, Jesus says the opposite is true as well.  If we deny Him before men, He will deny us before His Father.

No doubt about it.  That verse was written for situations like this one.

I bowed my head and prayed, asking God to forgive me for worrying more about a stranger’s comfort than doing His will.  I thanked Him for His faithfulness with our family’s finances.  And I thanked Him for my children, who had indeed been on their best behavior, especially little Julia, who had done something so pleasing to her Heavenly Father, despite what her way-too-earthly mother had said.

And I also asked God to help me never to become too proud to learn from a child.

Diane Stark writes from Brazil, Indiana. DianeStark19@yahoo.com