Why children are in the Kingdom of Heaven

(Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash)

In the book Talk Yourself Into it! Robert A. Russell tells the story of 8 year-old Carolyn, as told to him by a live-in family nurse. They lived some distance from town, and one Saturday groceries were delivered. Carolyn and the nurse were putting them away when Carolyn asked if there were bananas. The nurse said no, but she would order some next week. Carolyn said she wanted, and was going to have, bananas that very day. The nurse said that’s unlikely as it’s rainy and the roads will be bad.

Later, the nurse saw Carolyn in her bedroom on her knees, praying with confidence that the bananas will come that day. At supper she reiterated her confidence in the arrival of bananas. She even rose from sleep at a quarter to ten to inquire if the bananas had come. All along the nurse tried to prepare her for disappointment.

Shortly before midnight, the family’s pastor and his wife knocked at the door and the nurse answered. After they had gone to bed, the pastor explained, he woke up feeling there was a crisis and they came to check on them. The nurse said there was nothing wrong. Then the pastor’s wife mentioned they had purchased some nice bananas that day and brought some. The nurse invited them in, told the story, and they awakened Carolyn who, unsurprised, thanked Jesus and enjoyed a…