A Child's (Fresh) Perspective

Last week, my oldest daughter (7 yrs old) Cambria asked me if I would read her a Bible story at night before going to bed.  I quickly jumped at the opportunity and asked her what she would like for me to read.  She responded immediately with "John."

I don't know why she picked the John's Gospel but I agreed to read it.  She said, "Start from the beginning."

I initially hesitated because I thought, "How will Cambria comprehend some of the complex ideas that John shares and some of the mysterious sayings of Jesus in the Gospel of John?"

The next thought was a better one.  I thought, "Cambria will help me see this book in a new light."

I have been reading approximately one chapter per night to Cambria before going to bed.  I have tried to limit my commentary because my goal has been to let God (through the narrative and content) speak for himself.  I have let her ask questions along the way such as "Who are the Pharisees?" but I have intentionally kept my mouth shut when I feel the need to explain a word or concept.

The experience has been a delightful one for both of us.  Cambria is making observations and asking questions that I would easily overlook. 

Here are some examples:

• What did Jesus call his mommy?  Did he call her "Mommy" or "Mom"?   (in response to Jesus saying in John 2:4, "Dear woman, why do you involve me?") 

• "Huh?  (laughing) That's silly, how can a person be born a second time?" (She said this right after I read Jesus words to Nicodemus in John 3:3, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdome of God unless he is born again."  I then read Nicodemus' response that was pretty much the same as hers, "How can a man be born when he is old... surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" )

• "Why would anyone love darkness? It is scary when it is dark.  That doesn't seem smart to love the dark." (in response to Jesus' words in John 3:19, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.")

• "Shhhh...  (giggling as she speaks) She doesn't know it is Jesus" (in response to reading John 4 and the Samaritan woman's conversation with Jesus at Jacob's well.)

I have thoroughly enjoyed (and been challenged) by Cambria's questions and first interactions with these accounts from John's Gospel.  I'm looking forward to more questions and observations as we continue...

If you would like a new perspective on anything, then watch children... they will give it to you (whether you want it or not!).