Altar Call – Opelika-Auburn News
Walter Albritton
May 6, 2007
Oh that we could see the world through the eyes of a
child
Patsy Cline touched our hearts with her singing but never more than with her rendition of “If I Could See the World through the Eyes of a Child.”
That song made us realize that the world would be different if all of us could see things as little children see them. For example, kids can get in a fight one minute and be reconciled the next. Adults find a way to nurse grudges for years.
As we grow older we envy children. They can spend hours playing with a cardboard box while never fretting about rent, car payments, or grocery bills. All the while their parents are worrying about where to find the money to fix the hot water heater.
People are never wiser than when they are children. Adult wisdom is often stuffy and boring. We learn as adults to worry, lose sleep, and agonize over life’s problems. I guess there are exceptions but the people who struggle with anxiety attacks are seldom children.
If you can forget about thinking like an adult for a few minutes, you could enjoy these observations of the world as seen through the eyes of children:
* A second
grader attended the
*
* Ralph wrote his pastor: "Dear
Pastor, I liked your sermon on Sunday. Especially when it was finished."
Come to think of it, a lot of adults still think like children!
* A little girl was asked, "What would you do if you were the Pope?" She replied, "The first thing I would do is coat all the communion wafers in chocolate!" I would love that!
*A 4-year-old
Catholic boy told his dad what happened in church. "The priest called some
of the people down to the front and gave them an alka-seltzer!" Wow, and without water!
* A boy announced to his mother
that he had decided to become a preacher when he grew up. When his mother asked
why, he said, "Well, I'll have to go to church on Sunday anyway, so I
figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell than to sit still and
listen." It is, son, it is!
* A boy of 3 watched as the
priest, after all had been served, wiped the chalice. He turned to his mother
and said, "He's doing dishes now, Mom; can we go home?" Why not son;
I’ll go with you!
* A little boy knelt between his
parents at the communion time and the pastor, not really seeing him, failed to
serve him. "Hey," the boy said, "don't you have anything for us
little guys?" It is for everybody, isn't it? The little fellow understood.
* One little girl prayed,
"Dear God, thank you for the baby brother. But what I prayed for was a
puppy." Oh, the innocence of little children!
* Mickey prayed, "Dear God,
if you watch me in church Sunday, I'll show you my new shoes." Good for
him; he expected God to show up!
* Rob prayed, "Dear God, of
all the people who work for you, I like Noah and David the best." Oh come
on, son; what about Jesus and Paul?
* Stephen wrote this letter to
his pastor, "Dear Pastor, I would like to go to heaven someday because I
know my brother won't be there." A
lot of adults will be surprised to see who made it through the Pearly Gates.
* A child stayed in the pew as
his father went forward to receive the sacrament. When the dad returned the
child asked about the wafer, "They got any chocolate ones up there?"
Now that is an idea worth thinking about!
* Alex wrote his pastor:
"Dear Pastor, please say a prayer for our Little League team. We need
God's help or a new pitcher. Thank you." I bet Alex was willing to pitch.
* A woman brought her grandson
to the Episcopal service. The boy watched as the priest at the altar prepared
communion and said, "Look, Grandma, God is making Kool-Aid." Maybe grandparents should explain what is
going on!
* Jane prayed, "Dear God, I
went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that okay?" Yes,
Jane; in fact, church is a good place to kiss and make up.
* Norma prayed, "Dear God,
did you mean for the giraffe to look like that, or was it an accident?"
Children know that God has a sense of humor before adults find that out.
* Lucy
prayed, "Dear God, are you really invisible or is that a trick?"
Sometimes, Lucy, God is so real that you can almost reach out and touch him.
* Bruce prayed, "Dear God,
please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it
up." He knows, Bruce, he knows, and he is glad you believe he can help
you.
* Ellen wrote
her pastor, "Dear Pastor, I think a lot more people would come to your
church if you moved it to
Patsy Cline wanted to see things through the eyes of a child. She was right. The world would be more wonderful if we could all do that. I will let Patsy have the last word:
If I could see the world through
the eyes of a child
What a wonderful world this would
be
There’d be no trouble and no
strife just a big happy life
With a bluebird in every tree.
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