Virginiaisms

Matthew 5:44-46
"You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.  He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

I'll go down to hell, smack the devil with love, and knock him out with kindness. ~Virginia Rose (July 2018)

I'm perusing some journal notes I take last year when I come across this quote from granddaughter, Virginia.  Surely I had plans at the time to create a blog post featuring her precocious words, but other distractions and demands, obviously, place it on the back burner.  I am delighted beyond words to rediscover her unique and brilliant insight of godly wisdom at the ripe old age of eight!

And there are so many more "Virginiaisms" which I document and now share with you here.

I love my life!  Virginia declares this often, and with complete conviction, ever since she turns seven.  Her Papa (Danny) and I are always thrilled when she emotes this affirmation of joy and positivity.  Shouldn't more of us be saying that, and thanking God for this one life He has made possible?

My life can get complicated.  Oh, yes, it can!  To grasp that concept takes some mature understanding, doesn't it?  Virginia opens herself up to a fabulous teachable moment:  When life gets tough, the tough turn to God.

In response to my question posed last year, "Virginia, do you understand what sarcasm is?," she replies, Yeah, right!  I think she gets it, hands down!

Last summer, when the lightning bugs are swarming, we give Virginia a jar with holes punched in the lid so she can capture the fleeting beauties to her heart's content.  After a few minutes, she returns the jar to me.  I don't need to capture them in this.  I just want to feel them on my hands and set them free.  Ahh . . .

If the devil wasn't in the world, there would be no scary movies.  Amen to that, girlfriend!

When Virginia discovers that our new end tables have USB ports where she can charge her beloved tablet, she exclaims,  Hallelujah!  God has awoken!  Admit it!  Don't we all feel that way about technology at times?

Two weekends ago, when Virginia is with us, she looks up at me wistfully.  It's a shame how time flies.  Oh, yes, precious one, it flies excruciatingly quickly.  In your child's bubble of innocence, how do you know?  Yet, you do.

We attend church that Sunday, and remark about how well-behaved and attentive she is throughout the service.  Virginia tells us honestly, I'm really just here for the music.  But what better way to worship God than through praise-filled songs?  King David knew that!

And circling back to the first quote from Virginia, she confides, in all seriousness, her reaction to being seated next to a grandmotherly chaperone on a recent field trip with her class.  I know she's someone's grandma, but the nicest grown-ups have the darkest souls.

Let that sink in . . .

I know, the minute those words escape Virginia's lips, the immutable truth she has uttered:  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)  Too many times, Satan takes up residence in the most innocuous of persons.  Virginia seems to have that second sense that I pray will protect her as she grows in the knowledge and love of God.

And speaking of Satan, none of us like or appreciate that devil one iota.  We want to smack the living daylights out of him and his horrid influence on our world.  But let's do so as Virginia recommends:  Smack (him) with love, and knock him out with kindness.

It's a win-win!

One I think God would be proud of in the end.

Amen!