Out of the Mouths of Babes: Apparently Jesus Has a Spam-Caller Policy

There are moments as a parent—and now as a Meema—when you realize children are listening to absolutely everything we say. Then there are moments when you realize perhaps they have been listening, but their interpretation needs a little work.

Monday was one of those days.

Scotty, my 4 year old grandson and I were on our way to the movies to see PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie when my phone rang. It was a local 910 number, and because I work in real estate, I can't automatically ignore numbers I don't recognize. That unknown caller could be someone wanting to buy a home, sell a home, or ask a question about real estate. So, of course, I answered and of course, it was SPAM.

I told the caller that I was driving and had my four-year-old grandson with me, so I couldn't talk. After hanging up, I grumbled something along the lines of, “UGH! How annoying. Spam callers all the time!”

From the back seat came Scotty's immediate response:

“Yeah. Jesus, save us! Just kill them all!”

Apparently, Scotty believes in the saving power of Jesus, but he is still working on that whole love your enemies portion of the Gospel. I quickly explained that we really shouldn't ask Jesus to kill the spam callers. Jesus loves them too, even when they interrupt Meema on the way to the movies, but Scotty was not convinced.

 It reminded me of something I've learned over and over again through raising my own children and now spending time with my grandchildren: children have a remarkable way of showing us what they are learning from the world around them.

Sometimes it is precious. Sometimes it is profound and sometimes it is absolutely hilarious.

Years ago, when my son Joshua was about four years old, we lived in Goose Creek, South Carolina and we worked with a lot of young missionaries that would come to Charleston for the summer. They did beach evangelism and other fun youthful activities to share the gospel. One of the summer missionionaries was a dear friend named Cody. One evening Cody came to our house for dinner and it was the first time he had met the kids. When Joshua was introduced to him he was shocked because Cody wore an earring.

Joshua studied him for a moment and then asked, quite seriously, “Are you a gypsy?”

It really tickled Cody, and of course we were mortified. Cody gently explained that the earring actually had a special meaning to him. He told Joshua about the biblical practice in which a servant who had been given his freedom could choose to remain with a master he loved. As a sign of that choice, his ear would be pierced. Cody explained beautifully that his earring represented his desire to be a servant of Christ—that even if given the choice, he would never want to leave his Master.

It was heartfelt. Biblical. Eloquent. Little Joshua listened intently to the entire explanation. Then he looked at Cody and asked: “So... are you a pirate?”

All that theology and he went straight to pirate. We all laughed and simply let it go.

 I remember thinking then what I thought again today: Little minds are constantly trying to make sense of big truths.

They hear our words. They watch our reactions. They absorb our faith. And then, every once in a while, they repeat it back to us in a way we never saw coming.

That is one of the beautiful—and humbling—things about having children in our lives.

Scripture tells us to teach God's truths diligently to our children, talking about them as we sit at home, walk along the road, lie down and get up. Faith isn't only taught in church or during a carefully planned devotional. Sometimes theology happens in the car on the way to the movies after Meema gets aggravated with a spam caller.

And apparently, sometimes the lesson of the day is:

Jesus saves. Jesus loves everybody. And no, Scotty, we cannot ask Him to kill the telemarketers. We've got a little work to do, but goodness, I love that sweet boy!

Tea with Me

Apparently, raising children and grandchildren means planting seeds of faith—and occasionally discovering just how creatively those little minds interpret them.

  Angela Brady
A Brady Brokerage
Trust your Bunch with a Brady

Angela Brady with A Brady Brokerage helps buyers and sellers throughout Fayetteville, Raeford, Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Fort Bragg, and surrounding North Car