TRULY I SAY TO YOU, WHOEVER DOES NOT RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIKE A CHILD WILL NOT ENTER IT AT ALL. Mark10:15
“Where is daddy’s little princess?” Dad asked his favorite question as he opened the front door.
“She’s here…she’s here” Denise cried as she rushed down the stairs to greet her dad. Shutting the door with his foot, he engulfed her in a big bear hug.
“Is my princess ready?”
“Yes, she is” Mom answered, coming downstairs. “I cannot come to the museum. Mrs.Hepplewhite wanted me to help her with something. Just drop me at her house when you go”. Mrs.Hepplewhite was an elderly lady who lived a few blocks away. So, Denise and her dad dropped mom at Mrs.Hepplewhite’s on their way to the local museum.
“Daddy, how come you are not scared of those cars? They go so fast”. Little Denise asked from the back seat as they stopped at the signal the light turned green just as dad began to answer.
“That’s because God protects -” He never got to finish the sentence. Within seconds, a car speeding from the right side came crashing into theirs. The left side of their car was intact but the right was beyond recognition. The ambulance was called and Denise was carried to the Emergency Room.
As Denise parents sat outside the room, silent in shock, dad spoke out – “God did it- just when I was saying He would protect us”.
“No, don’t say that, Danny. God didn’t do it. He will protect us. All things work together for good”. Mom replied between her sobs.
“Sure they do.” Dad said sarcastically. He loved Denise very much and could not see what good could come out of this.
Days passed by and Denise underwent an operation in her leg she was fine but the operation was a failure and it was doubtful if she’d ever walk again. It was a blow to the entire family. Of course, they didn’t tell her but she seemed to sense that something was wrong.
Robert, Denise’s uncle was a neurologist and was a very strong believer in Christ. He had offered to spend his vacation with Denise, telling her stories, cheering her up and reminding her parents to have faith in God. He told her about how Jesus could heal the sick, blind, deaf and lame.
“Then, uncle, can Jesus heal my leg, too?” Denise asked eagerly.
“Of course, He can.” Robert replied. But since it was not medically possible (he had seen the report), he decided that they should take her to a miracle service soon and have many people pray for her. But he didn’t tell this to her. But from that day, Denise tried to walk everyday. She would pray a little prayer asking Jesus to help her as she tried to stand.
“Poor thing, she will never walk even if she tried hard. Her nerves have been greatly damaged. There is no harm in trying though it will hurt. We need a miracle.” Robert told his sister slowly knowing that she must know the truth.
“My poor baby…!” Mom choked.
One day, Denise asked Jesus as usual to help her & began to get out of her bed. Everyday, she would stand for a few seconds, clutching the rail of her bed for support. But today she walked and felt no pain.
“Mommy, look. uncle, daddy look. I am walking. I am walking. Jesus healed me. He healed me.” She cried out as they all came running to her room, her face was like that of an angel’s. It was a day of celebration. They went to church that night and the entire church praised the Lord for it.
That night, the pastor gave a message on ‘God strengthens us’. He emphasized the well known verse “For My strength is made perfect in weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9. As everybody bowed their heads in prayer after the message, Robert was aware of that still small voice talking to him. Despite his many ‘strengths’ in the eyes of the world – being a successful neurologist and his knowledge of many spiritual truths in the Bible, he realized that he (and the rest of us) needed that one important quality. He needed that something that is not usually found in a man or woman – but in a child. He needed that faith –that faith of a little child.
TRULY I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS YOU ARE CONVERTED AND BECOME LIKE CHILDREN, YOU WILL NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.Matt18:3