April 22, 2008

Last Saturday, we were sitting at the kitchen table eating lunch, when Jaylin decided to strike up a conversation, as he so often does.

"You know what's better than anything in the world?" he asked.

Almost before he finished saying the words, my mind started running through the possibilities, trying to see where he might be going with this. What is better than anything to a five year old?

Earlier in the day, Jaylin had played in soccer game, in which he scored three goals for his team. After the game, he received much congratulations from the parents of his teammates, as well as parents from the other team, since they all go to the same school. Perhaps he was still enjoying the excitement of the game, thinking that was better than anything.

He had just spent the night with his grandparents. They took him out to eat and shopping at the mall. So perhaps his thoughts were running somewhere along those lines. Or maybe it was being back at home after being away for a couple of nights.

Perhaps it was all the toys he has, so many that we at times have trouble walking through the den. He had just been playing with some of them while we were getting lunch ready.

Or maybe it was lunch itself. We were having our usual grilled cheese sandwiches, which he and I enjoy. And I do think they are good, myself. But maybe not better than anything.

It could be one of his make believe games, I thought. He likes to keep up with sports of several types. And very often he is having an "action figure game" where the different action figures he has make up the different teams of whatever sport happens to be in season, and Jaylin acts as both coach and PA announcer.

The possibilities in my mind kept on running. Maybe it was pizza, one of his favorite foods. A movie he had recently watched that he was remembering. Our trips to Walt Disney World and the fun times we have there. Friends. Family. The beautiful weather of the day, which meant that we would be able to spend part of the afternoon outside. My list went on and on.

And as I was thinking, I was also starting to prepare my speech, just in case he said something that really wasn't that important. Now you know - I was thinking - that might be good, but I don't know if it is really better than anything. Just as a way to keep him grounded and on the right path.

While I was still getting things ready in my mind, Laura repeated Jaylin's question back to him. "What is better than anything?" she asked.

Jaylin replied, simply, "God."

Can't argue with that.

Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is mighty. - Psalm 93:4

All notes

About the author

© 2007-2009 Deserted Island Productions. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. The "NIV" and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.

For more information, contact the .