"I Told My Friends at School That Jesus Lives in My Heart"

A little over a week ago, we were driving back from an evening dinner at Red Lobster. Seemingly out of nowhere, you started telling your daddy and me about a theological discussion you had had on the playground at school.

"I told my friends at school that Jesus lives in my heart," you said.

"You did? That's awesome, sis!" I said, truthfully taken aback by the declaration.

"Yes. But Kylie said that Jesus is everywhere."

"Yes, Jesus is everywhere," I said, trying to agree with you.

But this isn't what you wanted to hear. You got mildly irate, then, and started adamantly telling me: "Kylie said Jesus is everywhere but I told her that, no, Jesus lives in our hearts!"

I could tell you were upset about this conversation you had had with Kylie and I breathed a prayer that The Lord would direct me in what to say to you.

"Psalmie, Jesus IS everywhere, but we have to invite him to live in our hearts."

"Oh," you said. "Well, Zane said he doesn't believe in Jesus."

"He doesn't?!" I felt my heart drop. I couldn't believe there was a child in kindergarten, in your class, who didn't know that Jesus was REAL.

"Oh, sissy," I said. "You and Kylie need to tell Zane about Jesus."

"We will, Momma," you said. "We will tell him tomorrow."

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Psalmie, I don't know when you will read this blog, if ever, with adult eyes, but I wanted to talk to you about some important truths related to this real-life conversation between us.

1. Grown ups argue about doctrines like you and Kylie did about where Jesus lived. Both you and Kylie were right, you just didn't know it. As you grow older, you will realize that Christians argue about all sorts of things like this--and, sis, while we're arguing, there are people, like Zane, who need to know Jesus. Don't get caught up in the doctrinal arguments, sis. Not much, if anything, is ever accomplished by them. Focus on Christ and letting your light shine.

2. Grown ups also try to complicate "Spreading the Gospel of Christ"--but, sis, I hope you never lose the approach you have now. You just simply say what matters--that Jesus lives in our hearts (if we ask him to)--without having to memorize awkward pre-written statements or verses. Witnessing to others, letting your light shine? It's all about keeping it real, keeping it simple. Don't let people convince you otherwise.

P.S. I guess you DID talk to Zane the next day. When I picked you up from school, you told me that Zane said Jesus lived in California. After you told me that, I said, "Well, that's a start!"