This Blog post is from an article written by James Oakley (six things a child needs from her Christian Parents). Thank you James for allowing me to publish your wonderful work.
Dear Mum and Dad,
How are you? I’m fine, thanks.
Well, enough small talk. You know I get to write a birthday wish list each year (even though you won’t get me everything – jetskis ARE getting cheaper, you know!) Well, I wanted to write a heaven wish list – you know, what I want you to do to help me know who Jesus is, and to trust him so I can go to heaven. I know you think the children’s minister is awesome, and that he will do the job just fine, but I want YOU to help me more than ANYTHING!!.
Well, here goes.
1. Show me what love means. I hear it ALL the time – ‘God so loved the world …’, love this… , love that… blah blah blah. What does that even mean? Kids at school talk about love, and it just doesn’t make sense.
You’re always trying to get me to like you – is that because you love me? Do you love me when I’m in time out? What about when you’re explaining what I did wrong? (But you do know that WASN’T me, it was my brother!) And when I yelled at you that I hate you – did you love me then?
How will I know what God’s love is? From seeing your love?
2. You should say you’re sorry. I’m not dumb, you know. I’ve known ever since I was six (which is, like, FOREVER!) that you get things wrong too. So please don’t pretend you’re perfect. Tell me when you’re wrong, and say sorry. It will help me to say sorry too. And I love you and respect you more when you’re open with me. That would be cool.
And that time you yelled at me, and then said sorry to me AND to God was, like, WOW! I could see that you meant it. You showed me how to say sorry to God too.
3. Tell me stories. I LOVE it when you tell me stories. I love made-up stories, but I love the true ones even better. I love hearing about you when you were little (well, mostly when you got in trouble. Those stories are FUNNY!) I love when you say how you met. I love stories from the Bible , and I REALLY love hearing about Jesus. Stories are how I find out who you are, how the world works, who Jesus is, how I fit in.
4. You have to take me seriously. I know I ask a LOT of questions but I really like it when you take my questions seriously. I know they sometimes seem silly – like ‘did Jesus go to Macca’s?’). And I know that I sometimes say things that are hard – like ‘Sometimes it’s hard to know if God’s real.’) But it’s really great when you don’t laugh and don’t make me feel like I’m being silly. I’m glad I can ask and say things and you still love me.
5. I need you to show me how to follow Jesus. I’m always watching. I’m not dumb – I see how you spend your time. I can work out what matters to you. Let me see you following Jesus – reading the bible, praying, helping people.
6. Help me to see who I really am. I want to know the truth about the world and about me. I know I’m not an angel or a princess, but I’m not hopeless either. I’m all these things at different times. Please help me learn how it all fits together.
I think that’s about it, Mum and Dad.
Good luck.
From your favourite daughter. XXX
PS. I’m sure a jetski will help me get to heaven faster. PleasePleasePlease!!
This article can be viewed in the latest edition of the Tasmanian Anglican magazine. Available here: http://www.tasmaniananglican.com/ta201404-00/
