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   Room to Grow
   Devotion for Wednesday, August 09, 2000
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Selection Taken From:
Room to Grow: Daily Thoughts for Men by Keith Long

Designed specifically for men, these real-life stories demonstrate the abiding strength of Christian faith.

"August 9"

"“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 18:3 "

From Fathering I drove toward home, minding my own business. Parker, about four and a half years old, sat in the back in his safety seat, minding his own business. I assumed. “Dad,” he asked, “do you like fun girls?” Whoa. Without even realizing it, I tapped the brake. My mind whirled for just a second, wondering where Parker might have heard that term. Television maybe. But we don’t watch television, except for a couple of game shows and pbs. Movies? He hadn’t been exposed to anything but The Lion King and The Apple Dumpling Gang. School? That was it, I decided, realizing Parker now had a few months of the four-year-old program under his belt. Kids talk. “Well,” I said, “I don’t know. Do you?” “Yeah,” Parker said, matter-of-factly. “I like ’em.” “What exactly is a ‘fun girl’?” I asked, bracing myself for whatever might develop. “Oh, you know, girls that play baseball.” “Ah,” I said, loosening my stranglehold on the wheel. “That kind of fun girl. Oh, yeah. I like baseball girls.” I have to watch myself when I’m dealing with Parker. I have to realize I’m dealing with perfect innocence—innocence crafted by the hand of God. When Parker speaks, too often I inject my own worldly realities and worldly sins and worldly disappointments into his words. Kids just mean what they say. No wonder Jesus told us to become like children. Our conversation that day wasn’t over, however. “Dad?” Parker asked. “Yes?” “Is Mom a fun girl?” “You’d better believe it,” I said, grinning into the rear view mirror.