A few weeks ago my three-year old nephew was staying with me and found his way in my bed before falling asleep. I asked him if he wanted to pray with me and he smiled and said, “Yes.” This is unusual for him. When we pray before eating dinner, he never wants to, but I guess if you put temptation in front of someone, they’d rather devour it than pray (ooh double meaning!).
Anyhow, so we prayed and after the Amen came all the questions. “Where is God?” “How can He get in my heart?” “Why is He up in Heaven?” My precious nephew, Jordan (whom we lovingly call Jordy) decided that he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart, and he was absolutely serious. So he prayed to accept Jesus in his heart and he was ready to go to sleep. I was stunned and filled with joy and confusion all at the same time at what this little toddler had just done.
We started falling asleep when all of a sudden I heard him ask a question, “We all have to die, don’t we?” At that point I thought he was sleeping, so I wasn’t sure if he was dreaming.
“What, Jordy?”
“Aunt Liss, we all have to die, don’t we?” He said clearer this time.
I stopped for a moment, trying to figure out what to say. “Yes, baby, everybody has to die when their life is over. And if they know Jesus, love Him, and accept Him in their hearts, then they go to Heaven.” I didn’t want to scare him with the alternative when we were about to go to sleep. No need for nightmares about Hell because Aunt Liss is a bad aunt.
He was satisfied with my answer, told me he loved me, and he passed out snoring moments later, while I lay there, absolutely stunned.
When I figured out that God was gently yet firmly urging me to do the World Race, Jordy’s face came to mind. I realized all I would miss out on His little life. I’ll miss his fifth birthday, his entrace into Kindergarten, bigger t-shirt sizes, the beach, and so many precious moments. I also realized that he might not understand why I’m leaving and why I’ll be gone for so long. I spent an entire day in grief over all I’ll miss with my sweet guy. Then I remembered the story I just recalled, and knew what I could tell him. I will tell him that I’m going to tell other kids, just like him, about Jesus. Kids who don’t have mommies and daddies or aunts to tell them about Jesus. While it might not sound like much, I pray that he will understand. Maybe that is why God allowed me to see Jordy’s interest in God and to pray with him. God is most certainly good. And I’m pretty sure my nephew is the cutest and the biggest ham ever.
