As we drove to church yesterday, Emily and I were talking about the latest royal visit to Canada. It was a fairly typical conversation for us. Discussion about Canadians’ general lack of understanding about how our government works. A few toe dips into some soft anti-monarchism. We didn’t think about the kids listening in.
And then, my daughter piped up:
“God is the Prime Minister of our lives, and the Lord and King of the universe.”
BOOM, as the kids say.
This is a powerful statement, isn’t it? Not that my daughter gets this practically, of course. (Do any of us?) But for her to hear us talking about human government and make the connection is terrific. It’s no wonder Jesus told us to be like little children (Matthew 18:3).
Granted, not in all things or at all times. But we should want to demonstrate the same kinds of positive characteristics children do. Acknowledged dependency. A willingness to ask questions. The ability to be comfortable with simple and clear truths.
Like the one my daughter shared in the car.
It’s because of those characteristics that I think kids sometimes make better theologians than us grown-ups. In all honesty, I don’t know if I would have put it that way. I might have complicated it up a bit, adding all kinds of nuance or definitions of roles and whatnot. But I’m not sure it would have been as beautiful as simply saying, he is the Lord and King of the universe.
This is one of the many reasons I’m grateful for my kids. They are always reminding me of little truths (and big truths). They help me think clearly about the Christian faith because they need me to explain it clearly. Yes, they need their mom and me to teach them. But I’m not sure either of us could do as good a job if we didn’t have their example to follow, too.
