Childish Faith

I read this story in a book and decided to post it because I learned something from it after reading it. I hope to share this story with YOU who is reading this blog RIGHT NOW!! Thanks for reading =) Here goes:



Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.

"Chrissy! Chrissy! Abby's gone!" My seven-year-old brother Matthew pounded on my bedroom door. Flinging it open, I found myself gazing into his frantic eyes. "We looked everywhere," Matthew cried. "What if she got outside? Abby's never been outside alone!"

Fear ran down my spine as I thought of the black-and-white kitten we'd brought home only three days before. Abby was supposedly a family pet, but matthew had formed a special bond with her.

"Don't worry. We'll find her," I said, trying to sound like a reassuring big sister. A tiny creature like Abby could be lost almost everywhere. I led Matthew downstairs where we joined the rest of the family in turning the house upside down. We searched through closets, under couches, inside potted plants and anywhere else a kitten might hide. I kept praying that Abby would suddenly leapt out and pounce on our ankles, but she never showed up.

"She must be outside," I told Matthew. "Let's go look." "You'll never find her out there," our elder brother, Anthony, informed us. "She's probably been eaten by a hawk or squashed in the road by now." Sometimes he could be negative. "Hush up!" I snapped, throwing him a sharp look. "Don't listen to him," I told Matthew. "Abby's fine." "Okay," Matthew replied. But I could tell he didn't believe me.

Together, Matthew and I searched the soybeaan fields that surrounded our house. We slithered under the porch. We checked every tree in the yard. The sun set, and there was still no sign of our kitten. "Will she be okay?" Matthew asked me, as I tucked him into bed that night. "I don't know," I sighed. I had spent the entire evening trying to convince my brother that everything would be fine, yet I could no longer hide my dissapointment. I was sure we'd never see Abby again.

Now Matthew tried to cheer me up. "We'll find her," he said, suddenly confident. "I'm gonna pray that Jesus lets her be here in the morning. How's that?" That's crazy, I wanted to say, but i didn't. Instead, I tuck the covers under Matthew's chin. "Go ahead and pray," I said,"but don't get your hopes up." I tried not to show how doubtful I was, but Matthew saw right through me. "Jesus cares about kittens too," he insisted.

To make Matthew feel better, I knelt and listened to his simple, childish prayer. It was sweet, but it was obvious we'd been reading my brother way too many of those Christian bedtime stories in which children were constantly praying for and getting miracles. He had alot to learn about the real world. "Is Matthew asleep?" Mom asked when I came downstairs. "Yeah," I replied, staring at my feet. I missed having Abby chewing on my socks. "Oh, by the way," I added, "don't be surprised if your son doesn't believe in God in the morning." "What do you mean?" Mom asked, surprised. "Well, Matthew just prayed that God would send Abby back by tomorrow, and he really thinks it's going to happen."

"And you don't?"

"Oh please!" I exclaimed. "I'm not seven years old, Mom. I know God's not a genie in some lamp you just rub and make a wish to." "No," Mom agreed, "but He still cares about everything that concerns His children, no matter how small." "Sure, Mom," I replied. "I'll remember to tell Matthew that when he wakes up tomorrow and his kitten isn't waiting to play with him."

As I stalked out of the room, I heard my mother sigh. "Oh, Crissy," she whispered softly. "What's happened to your faith?"

I tossed and turned trying to fall asleep. Visions of Abby's whiskered face and Matthew's trusting eyes swam through my head, along with my mom's lingering words. What's happened to your faith? I rolled unto my stomach. I remembered when I was a child, how I used to pray about every little thing, from a broken toy to a rained-out picnic. What was it that i had back then that made me so quick to turn to God and so certain that He cared? Was it really ignorance, or was it faith?

I woke up early the next morning and rolled out of bed. I needed to be up in time to run damage control when Matthew realized his kitten was gone for good. Suddenly, I felt something pounce on my foot. There was Abby, staring at me with her shining green eyes. I lifted the kitten in wonder, rubbing her furry face against my cheek. As happy as I ws to find Abby safe, I was a bit overwhelmed. I felt guilty that I had spent half the night refusing to have faith that God would bring our kitten home. Cradling Abby in my arms, I ran out of my bedroom and across the hall, where my brother was still asleep. Setting Abby on Matthew's stomach, I watched her crawl across his chest and place a tiny paw on his cheek. Finally, he opened his eyes.

"Abby!" he yelled, throwing his arms around his precious pet. "Oh Abby! I knew God would find you! Didn't I tell you Chrissy? Didn't I?"

"You sure did," I said,smiling.

"Now we need to thank Him," Matthew remimded me. Matthew bowed his head and folded his hands, one finger resting on Abby's tail. Now humbled, I followed his lead. I realized that although I was much older than my little brother, there was alot I could learn from his innocent faith.


-THE END-