Teachable Children

It was a comedy show hosted by Bill Cosby in the late 1990’s.
It was part of Art Linkletter’s radio show in the 1940’s.
It was the favorite feature of his TV show up until 1969.
Even the name made you smile: Kids Say The Darndest Things.

The premise of the show was to ask children age 3-8 a question.
Their cute, no holds barred answers were classic.
If you listen, really listen; you can still hear honest answers from the lips of a child.

I always notice children’s responses especially when they are particularly creative.
I really enjoy what they have to say about the Christmas story.

A little boy gave this answer when asked about who Jesus was:
He was born in a stable a long way away from here in another country.
Bethlehem. It’s in England.

A little girl said:
Jesus was a king and He wore a crown even though He was a baby.
It was a really small crown.

When asked about the animals that were in the stable on the night Jesus was born, a little boy said: There were sheep, horses, and a crocodile outside the stable.

My oldest daughter, as a little girl, was asked what the Wise Men brought to baby Jesus.
Without missing a beat she said proudly: Gold, diapers, and wipes.

One of my favorite responses happened when a little three-year-old girl was at the Christmas Eve service with her parents. The lights in the church were lowered and the time came to sing Christmas Carols. The choir came down the aisle with their lit candles. This precious little girl began to sing: Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus, Happy Birthday to You.

Truth from the mouth of a child.

We smile as we think of their answers.
We may even scoff at the fact that they should know better.
How dare we!
God the Father is delighted!

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said, ” I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-3)

Children are closest to the kingdom.
They have no pretenses.
They have no preconceived notions.
Their honesty is refreshing.

Unlike most adults, children are teachable.
Their answers, however absurd they seem, can be corrected with Truth.
Adults often explain Truth away if it lacks relevance.

I am so grateful that God sent His Son in the form of a baby.
A baby who was helpless and dependent and needed to be taught.
God sent His Son in the form of something Jesus, Himself, would eventually call GREAT!

Runny noses, skinned knees, misspoken words.
Honest, unable to connect the dots…yet!
Teachable.
Close to the Kingdom.

Since children are teachable, they need someone to teach them.
That is the daunting task given to us, the adults, the ones who should know better.
Often we don’t.
Often we allow the fact that we’re grown up to get in the way.

Can you imagine an adult singing Happy Birthday to Jesus?
Can you imagine an adult being so caught up in praise it just has to come out?
We would swallow that praise just for the sake of our image.

Not a child.

A child needs to be taught the full Christmas story from the cradle to the cross.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6,7)

A baby yet King.
Savior-servant.
God in the flesh.

Not the flesh of an adult who knows it all.
Rather the flesh of an Infant who needs to learn it all.
An Infant who must depend on His Heavenly Father.

He was in the world, and though the world was made though Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who receive Him, to those who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. (John 1:10-14)

The Christmas story is for children.
That means the Christmas story is for all of us!
What child needs to hear?