It was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista , CA . He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to 'explain God.' I wonder if any of us could have done as well?
[ ... And he had such an assignment, in California , and someone published it, I guess miracles do happen ! .. ]
EXPLANATION OF GOD:
'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.'
'God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.'
'God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'
'Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista . At least there aren't any who come to our church.'
'Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.'
'His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.'
'You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.'
'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!
Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.'
'If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids .'
'But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases...
And...that's why I believe in God.'
THIS KID PRETTY MUCH HAS IT ALL FIGURED OUT...
THE ONLY THING I WOULD CHANGE IS THE GO TO CHURCH...
I HAVE REPHRASED THAT PART OF MY LIFE WITH WORSHIP GOD...
NO WHERE HAVE I FOUND THAT IT SAYS GO TO CHURCH...
BUT IT SAYS WORSHIP GOD ALL OVER THE PLACE...
AND WHERE EVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO THAT IS OK...
IF IT'S CHURCH, FINE...
BUT IT CAN BE ANYWHERE YOU AND GOD MEET...
AND AS FOR KEEPING THE SABATH HOLY...
JUST ONE DAY DOESN'T CUT IT FOR ME...
EVERY DAY, EVERY MINUTE BELONGS TO GOD...
IT'S A 24/7 THING...
OR SHOULD BE...
I GO THROUGHOUT MY DAY WITH THE IMAGE OF HIM RIGHT BEHIND ME LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER...
WATCHING ME EVERY MINUTE...
CAUSE HE IS...
AND I QUIT SAYING AMEN...
BECAUSE TO ME THAT MEANS YOU ARE FINISHED TALKING TO HIM...
I TALK TO HIM ALL THE TIME...
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING...
I KEEP OUR CONVERSATIONS OPEN...
SO WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS OR SOMEONE NEEDS HIM...
HE'S RIGHT THERE WITH ME...
AND HE ALREADY KNOWS...
AND LIKE MY MOM ALWAYS TOLD ME...
IF YOU END UP SOMEWHERE WHERE GOD ISN'T THERE...
IT'S YOUR OWN DARN FAULT...
BECAUSE...
YOU FORGOT TO TAKE HIM WITH YOU...
THE WORDS OF THIS LITTLE BOY SHOULD BE THE WORDS THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN KNOW...
DID WE TEACH THEM WELL ENOUGH?
DO WE TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT THEY ALREADY KNOW THIS?
MAKES YOU THINK...
I'M GOING TO RETEST MY KIDS THIS WEEK, FOR SURE!
A PARENT'S WORK IS NEVER DONE.
