“Kids Say the Darndest Things” was an important segment of the Art Linkletter House Party on radio and television from 1945 until 1970.  Bill Cosby hosted a TV show by the same name from 1998 until 2000.  Both men exploited the innocence and lack of inhibition of 4 to 7 year old children to coax some really funny comments.  My wife taught preschool for several years.  She kept a journal of funny comments, although she never had to encourage any of them.  During the final program for parents at the end of the school year she would share some of those comments.  One I’ve never forgotten was when Lillie Ann invited A.J. to go to McDonald’s for lunch because her dad had “catched himself a new job.”  Another came from Erin, whose dad was a pathologist.  She told her teachers, “I’m going to Evansville after school, but first I’m going to watch an autopsy.”

I’ve heard that grandchildren are the reward for not killing your own kids.  We have eight of those rewards and they are all growing up too quickly.  The youngest is nearly finished with middle school and the eldest was married last month.  Several years ago I was sitting in the stands during one of Jack’s first T-ball practices.  He fouled off one pitch straight up in the air.  When it came down it struck him on the top of his batting helmet. His only comment was, “Hmmm, I guess that’s why they make you wear these hats.”  Not long after that he was in church participating in the Junior Sermon.  The youth leader asked the group, “What do you have to do to get into Heaven?”  Jack raised his hand and when called upon stated, “Well, of course, first you have to die.”  As you can imagine, all the adults in the worship service thought that was pretty funny…but wasn’t that just what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3 "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."  We must die to our old self-centered ways and be reborn of water and the Spirit.

One of my favorites came from Ella.  She and her mom were getting ready for bed and talking about what they needed to pray for.  After going through an extensive list, Jennie suggested that they should pray to have Jesus live in their hearts.  Ella responded, “Mom, if Jesus was to live in my heart, He would stick out all over.”  Jennie assured her that “sticking out all over” is exactly what Jesus wants to do.  After all, didn’t He say “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if I stick out all over (actually, if you love one another).” (John 13:35 NIV)  My prayer for our congregation has always been that people will recognize us because “Jesus sticks out of us.”

Kids do say the darndest things, but listen carefully.  Remember the words of Jesus, “I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”  (Matthew 11:25 NIV)  Don’t miss a great opportunity to learn from kids later this month during Vacation Bible School on July 23rd.  If you volunteer, I promise you'll learn something new.