For as long as I have been self-aware of myself as a person, I have also been aware of the personhood and divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have my parents and grandparents to thank for instilling within me an understanding and love for Jesus. What they did for me is priceless and has stayed with me all through my life. At my worst, as a teenager in the 70’s, through several years of bad decisions and actions, the best in me was that I never lost my love for Jesus.

Because I am a firm believer that even a very small child can have a correct concept of the Lord Jesus, and love him with a purity adults often lack, I talk to my young grandsons about the Lord now and again. Lately, I’ve been talking to my middle grandson about Jesus. Derek is three, and as all three year olds tend to be, he is very honest. Last week we were driving somewhere in the car, and I said to him, “Derek, do you love Jesus?”

Derek answered, “No.”

This is not new. I’ve asked him about Jesus other times and he has been resistant to “loving” Jesus.

“Why not?” I asked.

“No, don’t love Jesus.” he said. I let it drop, but prayed that God would find a way for Derek to realize Jesus loved him.

Later on in the week we were together once again. I’ve noticed children love to group things into lists, and out of the blue, with no prompting, Derek said to me, “I love Mommy. I love Daddy. I love Nanny….” and then, he spoke the words that caused me to swing him up, hug him to me and praise God. “I love Jesus.”

Oh the joy those words brought me. All on his own Derek added Jesus to the list of those he loves. My prayer was answered. I feel such peace that Derek has a concept of Jesus as a person. I am thrilled he grouped Jesus together with those he loves. He might have said it only to please me, but it is a start, and I will continue to build on it, as will his parents, his Sunday School teachers, and those spiritual touchstones he will come in contact with throughout his life. I rejoice that Jesus is on Derek’s list of those he loves. Is he on yours? Is your name listed in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:47