One day not long ago someone preached to me one of the best sermons I have ever heard. The preacher of this most excellent sermon was my 6 year old grandson, Beau. He wasn't trying to "preach" to me. He wasn't thinking about himself at all.
Children ask a lot of questions, don't they? So did Jesus. And children's questions can sometimes make us squirm. Just as Jesus' questions did and do. Well, on the day I took a walk to my mailbox with Beau, I squirmed a lot. You see, an elderly neighbor had died a few weeks earlier. My husband Mike and I didn't know him real well. He was a widower, a retired doctor, reserved in manner and speech. We called him Doctor Bob. I baked banana nut bread for him occasionally. Before he became sick, he usually took a daily walk and sometimes he would stop if my husband or I were outside and we would have a brief chat. On a few occasions when Beau was visiting us he would see Doctor Bob out walking. That was all the opportunity Beau needed to strike up a conversation.
The following is the dialogue that transpired between me and my grandson Beau on the way to the mailbox. ( Beau and his sister Hope call me "Manu.")
BEAU: Manu, how is Doctor Bob? I haven't seen him in a long time.
MANU: It has been a long time, Beau and I'm surprised you remember him. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but Doctor Bob died a few weeks ago.
BEAU: (Pause) Did he know Jesus?
MANU: Well,... uh... well, I'm not sure Beau. He went to church. I think he went to a Lutheran church. But, I don't...I can't say for sure he knew Jesus.
BEAU: Why didn't you tell him?
MANU: Well, (gulp)... it was kinda hard to talk, I mean... well, he was a very private man.
BEAU: Did you go to his funeral?
MANU: No, I didn't go to his funeral.
BEAU: Why didn't you go?
MANU: Uh... we didn't really know Doctor Bob that well. I did take food over to his house, but...we didn't feel... we just...we didn't go.
BEAU: I hope I see him in heaven when I go there.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 18: 1-4)