Leading Little Ones to God

One of my all time favorite books.

I'll probably start giving this as my standard baby shower present. I've been meaning to call Aunt Nancy and have her put it on the list to look for any time she is in Half Priced Books. My parents own this book, and although I don't remember going through it with them, the picture on the cover has stuck in my memory.

Leading Little Ones to God is written as a devotional book with each small chapter conveying to the child a truth about God.

It contains chapters titled:
Our Hearts ask for God
We Cannot see God
We See God's Works
God talked to People Long Ago
God Talks to Us
God Sent His Son

It speaks of God's goodness, it explains how sin entered the world. It tells about God's purpose in giving us His law. Then after it clearly and gently makes known our hopelessness,... Jesus.

It teaches our children about who Jesus is and how we can become children of God.

It's amazing. I mean, it's the Gospel. What else would it be?

I tend to over explain things to Jack, and well, anyone who will listen. This book is perfect for me because in only a page or page and a half, I am able to guide Jack through the story of God.

Yesterday morning, this simple-to-understand children's book spoke to me.


Chapter 24, God's Law is Good

Are you happy when you are naughty?
Oh, no! Being naughty never makes children really happy.
Disobeying God's law never makes grownups happy, either.
To be happy, we must obey God's law. We must love God and know that He loves us.
God made us for Himself, you know. And we cannot be happy unless we make Him happy. We are happy only when we are what He wants us to be.
Are you happy when Mother is cross with you? No! But you are happy when Mother is pleased with you. And so we are happy when God is pleased with us. That is why we should obey His law.

Wow. Have you ever heard that explained more clearly? Ever thought of a better comparison? I hadn't.

We were made by God.

We were made for God.

It makes perfect sense that we will be happy when God is pleased with us.

I always forget this. For some dumb reason I subconsciously think that pleasing myself will make me happy. At least I must. Because that is the thinking I always find myself in.

What pleases me?

• A clean house.
• Well behaved children.
• A husband who lives every day to serve me.
• Free time.
• Getting my way.

But will this stuff result in happiness? No, it would just result in pride.

On the other hand, if I'm concerned with pleasing God I will do things like:

• Work diligently in my home.
• Tirelessly (or tired-ly) train my children.
• Serve my husband out of my love for God.
• Offer Him my every moment to use as He plans.
• Seek His will.

Remember that saying, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."?

It's true isn't it? But picture a child's face when he receives praise from a pleased parent.

It's so beautiful.

It's contentment.
It's satisfaction.
It's joy.

"And we cannot be happy unless we make Him happy. We are happy only when we are what He wants us to be."

From now on, I'm going to try to picture Jack's "I made Mom proud" face, when I get pouty about things not going my way.

I'm going to try to remember that I was created for God and will only be truly happy when I am doing what I was created to do.