A six-year-old’s wisdom, part 1

Posted on May 6, 2009 12:00 AM MST by Tiffany Kinerson

A workbook that my youngest son, Matthew, is going through right now for Sunday School asked him to print out some things he thinks are sins. When I looked at his little bubbles of wisdom, I was floored at the depth to which one could take his six year old answers. For two of this month’s devotionals, I’d like to explore these Matthew-driven topics.

- One of the first sins he wrote out was “pout.” The other day a friend of mine was telling me about how she often feels like she must punish her husband when she’s feeling punished. And she hates that aspect of herself, wishes she could just let things go and move on with life instead of wallowing in the muck of unforgiveness.

Who doesn’t deal with pouting in every aspect of their lives? Our spouses do it, our children, we have broken family relationships because of it. And friendships. Man, we could all get along much better if the offended party didn’t feel like we all had to pay the price for transgressions. Or if I didn’t feel that same need.

“‘In your anger do not sin.’ Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Ephesians 4:26-27) See, when we allow unforgiveness to reign when we get angry, then we’ve opened wide the doors to something dark and sinister to attack our lives. If only we could hold to a six year old’s wisdom and learn to ask God to take away our pouting ways.

- Mean words: Along the same lines as pouting, mean words tend to flow from a heart full of anger. If only I could control my tongue enough to let encouragement flow freely and at all times. If I could learn from the words of my child, know with everything in me that my words can wound or heal, but it’s up to me which way I will bow. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom...And whatever you do whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus....” (Colossians 3:16-17) If only I could allow God to flow out of my mouth like honey into tea, sweetening the bitter leaves of sorrow so many people soak into their lives.

- Going in the street: My son is old enough, now, that this means going into the street without looking, without checking for potential danger. In short, this means foolishly running into the midst of danger. In Proverbs, it says fear of the Lord is the beginning of both knowledge (1:7) and wisdom (9:10). Knowledge such as “don’t run out into the street like a wild man,” is the open door to wisdom. If we step through that door of do’s and don’ts and into the wisdom of obedience, then God can transform our lives. Have I missed this along the way? At what point do I learn to heed the stop signs and the kindly policemen of my life, trusting that they direct me for my own protection and not just to prevent me from a rousing game of streetball on the interstate?

- Disobey: Also along the same lines as going in the street, disobedience is a catalyst for just about everything wrong I’ve done under the sun. And the main thing I say when I look to God and shake my fist at Him yelling, “No!” as I run out from under His protection? I tell Him I’m smarter than Him. That, although He is God and He may have created everything (John 1:3), He may have set everything in motion (Job 34:14-15), and He may direct everything on the Earth (Psalm 72:11-14), I, puny woman that I am, can work all things out for the good.

This is as foolish as a six year old deciding a fully-clothed romp through the backyard sprinkler is a better idea than getting his bathing suit on for a ride to the huge waterpark that awaits. Obedience belongs with trust and trust leads to faith. Do I trust Him enough to obey? And if I obey and then see the outcome, will it not lead to greater faith? “...And everything that does not come from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23) Abundant life—even here on earth!—waits for me, if only I will walk with God.

Next time I write, we’ll explore one last—and quite huge—aspect of sin my six-year-old hit upon. I’m so grateful for all God teaches me through the eyes and lips of my children, what about you?

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