Not long ago, Kiana was preparing to take her First Communion at her parish in Florida.  Kiana told her mother that she wanted to give her a special gift on Mother’s Day by having her First Communion on that day, which warmed her mother’s heart. Preparations began to take place for the grand day and her maternal grandmother made a beautiful First Communion gown and pictures were made of her in a peaceful garden.  Her maternal grandparents also flew in from Colombia, South America for the wonderful occasion coming up. 

 

Three days before the special event, Kiana went to swim team practice and slipped under the water without anyone taking notice. Kiana went to meet her Savior that day.  Kiana knew Jesus in a very personal way.  You see, Kiana’s favorite song was “Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true.  With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living Sanctuary for You.”  I believe as she sang that song, it became a prayer to her that she would be a pure and holy dwelling place for God to abide in for His purposes. 

 

This has truly been the worst and saddest tragedy in our entire family on either side for my husband and me. We can expect our older family members to pass away at some time, even though those deaths are extremely difficult as well, but we never expect our little ones to leave us in such an untimely and abrupt way.  Even though it was devastating for the entire family, especially for the parents and grandparents, our family felt God’s presence was with us.  Even travel arrangements and many other details of the trip seemed to fall into place as we made preparations to travel to Florida and we knew God’s favor was upon our family. 

 

As you will recall, I talked last time about mothers and how a faithful, loving mother is so vital in bringing up her children.  Kiana was fortunate because both her mother and father were devoted to training her and taught her to be gracious and kind to all people. They also taught her to love God.  Kiana’s parents taught her how to act in someone’s home and how to be respectful.  Their lives revolved around their little angel and what she was doing and they were very unselfish with their time. 

 

Kiana’s second grade class at Christian school made some wonderful cards and sent them to her mother and father.  When we got settled and had time, we read each card and marveled at the concept of eternal life Kiana’s classmates had.  They had a handle on what many adults make so difficult.  One particular child drew a picture of an elevator with 10 floors and with a picture of Jesus at the top and a caption with Him saying to her, “Come on in.”  The child also drew a picture of Kiana at the bottom of the elevator and her caption read, “Thank you!”  Many other cards were sweet little drawings of Kiana with Jesus in heaven and sometimes with angels all around.  One child wrote, “Kiana never got in trouble and was my friend.”  Another wrote, “Kiana was nice. One day she loaned me a crayon.” All in all, the cards were a true eye-opener as to what training children in the right way will do.  

 

Sometime before we left for the trip, I made the remark to my husband that we’re at the point in our lives that we can actually say that our lives are three-quarters over.  I had to retract that statement, though, because I thought of Kiana and her life ending after only eight short years.  It seems to me that the longer I live I see that we never know when the Lord may call our name to leave this world.  In other words, we have no promise for tomorrow and we need to be ready to meet Him at any moment because it could just be today.  I know I want to be ready to meet the Lord at all times.  In fact, I’m anxious to see Him! 

 

The Scripture above from Luke 18:15-17 shows how much Jesus thought of little children.  They were and “are” still a treasure to Him, but He went even further in what He had to say to the people and that was to “come to Him as a child.”  No matter what sin or what the problem is “just come to Him as a child” because that is the way we can enter into the Kingdom of God.  We must humble ourselves in the sight of God and be as a child because that is what pleases Him.  If a child were to pray to the Lord he or she would tenderly ask Jesus into his or her heart in the humblest way.  Jesus said that the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these (the children) and this gives us comfort that when our little ones pass on from this life to the next, they are safe with Him in His Presence.  Then when our time comes and we must pass away, if we are ready to meet the Lord, we can rest assured we will see our precious loved ones again.  Most importantly, we will see our Savior, just as He is.  (I John 3:2)

 

Prayer:

Father, I pray for every reader of this message today.  I pray that if there is anyone who does not know you personally that he or she will ask you into his or her heart right now.  You have asked that we come to You as a child and I pray that if someone does not know You that each one will accept You into his or her heart this very moment.  Lord, thank you for Your love and acceptance of us and allowing us to be Your children if we only ask.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

Accepting Christ is as easy as A, B, C:

 

A is for Ask:           Ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened  to you.  (Matt. 7:7)

 

B is for Believe:   That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  (Romans 10:9)

 

C is for Confess:    If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify  us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)