Written by Danny Dutton, age 8, from Chula Vista,
California, for his third grade homework assignment to "Explain God."
"One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to
replace the ones that die so there will be enough people to
take care of things on earth.
He doesn't make grown-ups, just babies. I think because they
are smaller and easier to make. That way, He doesn't have to
take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He
can just leave that to mothers and fathers.
God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An
awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers
and things, pray at times besides bedtime.
God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of
this. Because He hears everything there must be a terrible lot
of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off.
God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere
which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting His
time by going over your Mom and Dad's head asking for
something they said you couldn't have.
Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think
there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church.
Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work like
walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach
the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally
got tired of Him preaching to them and they crucified Him.
But He was good and kind like His Father and He told His
Father that they didn't know what they were doing and to
forgive them and God said OK.
His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all
His hard work on earth so He told Him He didn't have to go out
on the road anymore, He could stay in heaven. So He did.
And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and
seeing things which are important for God to take care of and
which ones He can take care of Himself without having to
bother God. Like a secretary only more important.
You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to hear you
because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the times.
You should always go to Church on Sunday because it makes God
happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God.
Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun
like going to the beach. This is wrong! And, besides, the
sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.
If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you
will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere
with you, like to camp, but God can.
It is good to know He's around you when you're scared in the
dark or when you can't swim very good and you get thrown into
real deep water by big kids.
But you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for
you. I figure God put me here and He can take me back anytime He pleases.
And that's why I believe in God."
Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My
six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed
our heads he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you
for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us
ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all!
Amen!"
Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I
heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this
country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God
for ice-cream! Why, I never!".
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I
do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"
As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific
job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly
gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said,
"I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."
"Really?" my son asked.
"Cross my heart." Then in a theatrical whisper he added
(indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing),
"Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice
cream is good for the soul sometimes."
Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the
meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something
I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae
and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the
woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you.
Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is
good already."
STEVE MAYNARD
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