Author: Kathy Weieneth
I know a precious little girl whose attitude toward God was very stiff-necked just last summer, but who is now, by God’s grace, sweetly tender-hearted toward her Savior. This story is especially delightful to me, because it’s about my 4-year-old granddaughter. Her name is Evelyn. And I particularly want to share this with you, my church family, because Evelyn is one of “my two” – she’s one of the two people I’ve been praying for every day at noon since Pastor Brandon challenged us to do this last August. Some of you may have been praying for Evelyn as well.
One day last summer, when Evelyn was still 3, I was babysitting my grandkids and reading them a bedtime Bible story. The book is one that Evelyn is very familiar with. The story spans the time between Creation and Christ's Resurrection. The grandkids and I had finished reading the page that shows the awful darkness of Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden, then we turned the page to see several modern-day kids who are all shown to have sin in their hearts and lives.
Evelyn’s older sister Aria commented that she also sins when she does “this” (she named one sin) and when she does “that” (she named another sin). I added my confession, saying that Grandma also sins – and I named two ways that I sin. Evelyn was listening intently, both to the story, and to Aria’s and my confessions. However, she was decidedly not looking at the book. In fact, she was sitting with a straight back, a stiff neck, and chin held high. And she was purposefully turned away from the book. Following Aria’s and my confessions, Evelyn defiantly announced, “I don’t sin!” Well, Grandma had to remind her that God says we all sin.
Fast forward several months. With many more bedtime Bible stories for Evelyn and her siblings read by their parents, and many more times of worship and Sunday school at their church, and many more babysitting nights with Grandma, and many more prayers lifted up for Evelyn. One day, Evelyn’s mom had the amazing privilege of hearing Evelyn’s sweet confession of faith. Evelyn said that she was a sinner, that she needed Jesus to save her, that she wanted Jesus to be her Savior, and that she loves Jesus! Wow! What a joy to hear this report about Evelyn trusting in Jesus!
Then just last week, which was about three months after Evelyn’s confession of faith, I was babysitting again. And I got to witness a spectacularly changed heart attitude in Evelyn. I was on the couch, reading a book to Isaiah, her younger brother, when I noticed that Evelyn had just snatched a fleece blanket out of Aria’s hands. I said, “Evelyn. I need you to put the blanket down and come sit with Grandma on the couch. We need to talk about what just happened.”
Evelyn was so agitated at that moment. She froze for two or three seconds while she decided whether or not to obey Grandma. Then she backed up a few steps, set the blanket down further away from Aria, and reluctantly came to sit next to me on the couch. My goal was to first hear from Evelyn about what had just happened, then hear from Aria, and consider my options for how to mediate the situation and bring reconciliation. However, God had bigger plans.
As Evelyn sat down next to me, she was still quite obviously agitated. But when I asked her, “Why did you grab the blanket from Aria?” Evelyn’s immediate response was to drop her chin to her chest in shame, and confess with a mournful cry, “Sin!” She was so heartbroken over her sin. And I was immediately awestruck by the contrast between this repentant Evelyn and the defiant Evelyn from last summer. I quickly pointed out to her that I sin too, and that’s why we can both be so grateful that Jesus died on the cross to take away our sin.
What a gorgeous grace of God at work in Evelyn’s heart! He changed her from being stiff-necked about her sin, to having a bowed head and a tender heart. Before long, Evelyn was off playing again with a happy heart. — Heavenly Father, Evelyn’s repentant heart and faith in Christ are an amazing gift from you and an answer to our many prayers. Please keep her always tenderhearted toward you and leaning into Jesus. It’s only by his blood that all our sins are washed away! Hallelujah! Thank you, thank you Lord, for this glorious, undeserved gift!
What risks have you been taking? How have you seen God working? Share your story HERE!
