Category Archives: Children

Continuity of Christianity

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The Bible tells us God has never changed, not all the way from before Creation through to this day. That’s the reason his salvation plan saved souls in centuries past in the same life-changing ways it does today.

In the past few days I’ve been studying my family tree by way of two 3” thick albums chock full of pictures and data about those who came before me. Yesterday I mentioned my paternal grandfather, Carl Johansson, whom I’ve been getting to know through these pages.

Having been born in Sweden in 1866, he boarded a ship for America while still a teenager of 19. Five years later, after becoming a citizen of the United States, he Americanized his name from Johansson to Johnson in an effort to become “thoroughly American.”

But whether in Sweden or America, he testified to having aligned with Jesus as personal Savior during childhood and holding onto that spiritual citizenship both as a Swede and as an American. He told his family he had made sure of that on confirmation Sunday at the Swedish Evangelical Free Church before the ceremony. Early that morning, as a 12 year old, he’d climbed to the attic and “gotten right with God,” figuring he’d better not stand among the confirmed without first confirming his faith in a one-on-One meeting.

Young father CarlCarl number 2

 

 

 

 

My dad, the second Carl Johnson (above), remembered his father praying at his bedside in Swedish: “God, who loves the little children, look to me, a little one.” Young Carl asked older Carl whether or not he prayed that way in his own prayers, and when he said he did, little Carl asked why. His father said, “Because in God’s eyes we are all little.” I like that this godly father was at his little boy’s bedside for a prayer time, and also that his spiritual instruction was both simple and accurate.

In the many photographs I’ve seen of my grandfather, his serious expressions mask the fact that he had a much lighter side. A business man and property owner, he suffered badly during the Great Depression of 1931-32. But in an effort to cheer a friend who had also lost he said, “Can’t we still sit on a bench and enjoy each others company just the same?”

Such levity (and common sense) during financial hardship is evidence that his faith was the bedrock of his life, not his real estate holdings or other possessions. But his beliefs showed in other ways, too. After losing his footing while swimming as a teen, he had a close call beneath a series of big waves. Once safely back on shore a friend said, “Did you pray while you were down there?”

His answer was revealing. “It was too late then. Praying should to be done before that.” Wise words by a young man who prayed.

Surely someone of strong belief in God had been praying over Carl Johansson, but who? I found my answer in ancestor data referencing my Swedish great-grandfather, Johannes Andersson, born in 1819….

“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)

Ready and Waiting

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In the New Testament when children joyfully referred to Jesus as the Messiah, the religious rulers of the day were incensed that he didn’t stop them. Instead he did just the opposite: “Don’t you read your Bibles?” he said. “From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise.” He was telling them, “These youngsters get me, and you don’t.” (Matthew 21:16)

How did those children become that devoted to Jesus? They were so sure about honoring him that they went against powerful local authorities without blinking an eye. How do we cultivate such certain faith in ourselves and in our children?

Hmmm...

Last night I received an email from our firstborn, Nelson, with some interesting thoughts about “signing on” with Jesus as Lord of our lives. He wrote about our natural reluctance to cooperate when the Lord directs us to move in his direction. Then, when we’re finally ready to comply, we do so only “little by little.” What Nelson said next gave me a new way to think about that, not from a human perspective but from the Lord’s.

Some of us, reluctant to step toward God, say, “But I’m still waiting on him,” and Scripture definitely encourages that kind of waiting. It’s possible, though, that when we say we’re “waiting on him,” it’s just a ploy to procrastinate on making a difficult change he’s already asked us to make.

Nelson wrote, “Funny how we sometimes get that mixed around, saying that we are ‘waiting on God.’ I think he’s waiting on us much more of the time, ready to bless us and move us to the next thing. God is ready. We are not.”

His words rolled around in my head for a long time, statements that were well-put and truthful.

In thinking about the scriptural children honoring Jesus with their words, we Christian parents think of our own children and how important it is to us that they one day choose to follow Jesus. We spend unnumbered hours praying to that end, and we take them to church, grill them on Bible memory verses, pay for Christian summer camps, and do our best to live Christian-ly in front of them. But sometimes children choose a different path anyway.

Though that saddens us, we should never despair. As Nelson wrote, all of us can be slow to walk in God’s ways. The good news is that he is always ready, whenever any of us steps even slightly in his direction. He is thoroughly prepared to bless us, and we’ll never have to stand waiting on him once we’ve come to the point of willing surrender. He’s already there, waiting on us… and our children. He wants all of us to come, and he looks forward to hearing “words of praise from our lips.”

None of it, however, happens on our timetables or through the circumstances we dictate. As Nelson wrote, “God often works in ways we don’t expect.” But one thing we know for sure: he is always ready and waiting for us.

“Honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts.” (1 Peter 3:15)

Hard Times

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On the trikeWhen I was 5 years old, I was still riding an old tricycle but passionately longed for a two-wheeler “like the big kids” and would have done anything to get one. Then someone at school put the word “possibility” on my dream when she told me if I sold a bunch of newspaper subscriptions, I could earn myself a bike for free!

I wasn’t sure what a subscription was but knew I could figure out how to sell them if it meant I’d end up with a new bike! From that day forward, I began pestering my parents with the idea. Although they didn’t think I could do it, they got tired of my badgering and eventually agreed to make the arrangements.

Going door-to-door in our neighborhood was safe for a 5 year old in 1950, and it didn’t take long before I’d sold enough subscriptions (20) to earn the bicycle. I’ll never forget the beauty of that big classy bike with its shiny maroon paint. It was too tall for me to do anything but stand as I rode, but that didn’t matter. We were perfect together.

New Schwinn

It wasn’t long before I begged Mom to let me take it to school, even though we lived just across a field from there and usually walked. I wanted to ride the long way around on the road, like other kids did, and finally Mom said yes.

But that day, some time during school hours, my bike was stolen. It disappeared from the bike rack without a trace, and I was devastated. Dad called the police and filed a report, but my beautiful new bike was never found.

All of us can point to raw experiences in our childhoods, and sometimes the resulting wounds fester for years. Although there are far worse things than getting a bike stolen, it was a big deal at the time. Looking back on a broken-hearted little girl, I could say, “Where was God when a thief made off with that bike?”

We could ask the same question about every injustice in this world today, but his answer would always be the same: “I was right here where I’ve always been.”

The fact that God doesn’t stop all injustice doesn’t mean he’s choosing to be mean to us. It can only be that he sees a positive purpose in each negative challenge. Not that child abuse or other travesties are positive. Of course not! But running to the Lord whenever we feel crushed by circumstances is always an uplifting thing to do. If we’ve been wounded, he stands ready to heal with comfort.

As for me, after my bike disappeared I couldn’t summon up enough enthusiasm to start selling all over again. Instead I played upon two sympathetic parents who eventually bought me another bike. But nice as it was, it never compared to the love I felt for my first two-wheeler.

“You, God, tested us… We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.” (Psalm 66:10,12)