The House of Trains

Julia called church, "The House of Trains." I would say, "Julia, are you ready to go to church?" And she would say, "House of trains? Ol-ver?" Oliver was her best friend. She was excited to go play trains with her friend. It was an answer to prayer for us because we spent many weeks trying to get her past her dread of being away from mom and dad in the nursery.

I recently wondered when Julia would get old enough for me to start teaching her about Jesus. She had a few Bible story books but the words were a bit too big for her to understand. One of her Bible books had beautiful butterflies in it and that was something she could comprehend.

Julia's mind wasn't developed enough to talk "theology" with me, but she knew what was most important. She knew what it meant to be loved and to give love. She knew God's creation. She said "hi" to the ducks and the birds. She knew how to play. She knew how to laugh. She knew how to dance. She knew what it meant to be a friend and have a friend. She was just starting to learn compassion, cheering up her mama and asking me, "Are you okay?" In many ways, Julia knew Jesus better than most adults.

I wish we could all call church "the house of trains." Julia understood that the place where you meet God is the place where you play. I hope I can always remember that, Julia.

But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” - Luke 18:15-17