It has been said that children can teach us many things, if we will listen. One of the things I love about kids is that they simplify things. As adults, we tend to over-complicate things – situations, relationships, theology, life, even gratitude.
One day I asked Tori, our 9-year-old daughter, if she would be willing to write a devotional for my sister’s website. She said, “You mean like the one’s you write for St. Luke’s?” I replied, “Yes!” She immediately jumped at the idea. She said, “I want to write about what God taught me when Jacob died.” Jacob was her 15-year-old cousin who was killed in a car accident last summer. She grabbed a pencil and some paper and curled up on the couch and began to write. Every once in a while, she would ask me how spell a word, like “ministry”, “comfort” or “realize”. Each time she would ask, I would think, “hmm…this sounds like a good devotional!”
When she finished, I asked if I could read it. She said yes, and then left the room. Her heart-felt words, and her prayer to follow, taught me the true meaning of gratitude.
When I was waiting to see if Jacob was going to be ok, I was so scared. I was going to a summer camp field trip in the bus with my friend who was trying to comfort me. I was crying. My friend was telling me that the doctors wouldn’t give up on Jacob. My children’s ministry director was there to help Dad tell me that Jacob went home to heaven. At first I didn’t think it was possible, AT ALL! When I came to their house the next day everyone was so sad. I knew this was this….forever. His celebration of life was not meant to be sad. It was meant to celebrate his LIFE. Now I realize that he went home to a more wonderful place than the world will ever be.
Dear God,
You gave me and Jacob and everyone great life. You had your son die on a cross for us. You showed us how to forgive. Thank you for giving us a wonderful life.
In Jesus name, Amen. – Tori Greenwald, 9 years old
That pretty much says it all.
Stephanie Greenwald, Director of Worship
