Altar Call – Opelika-Auburn News

Walter Albritton

May 7, 2017

Seeing the world through the eyes of a child

Folks my age can remember the quaint singing voice of Patsy Cline. I loved to hear her sing. I could understand what she was saying, a compliment I cannot pay some of today’s popular singers.

Good songs can help us deal with our fears. Today we are told Americans fear World War III may begin soon. Such worries

are intensified when we recall that Einstein said, “I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” A scary thought indeed.

Our worries about the horrors of war might be eased by listening again to Patsy Cline singing “If I Could See the World through the Eyes of a Child.” You may recall these heart-touching words:

If I could see the world through the eyes of a child

What a wonderful world this would be

There’d be no trouble and no strife just a big happy life

With a bluebird in every tree.

Simplistic? Yes, but adults could learn valuable lessons by studying the perspectives of children. Kids can fight one minute and be reconciled the next. Adults nurse grudges for years.

Stop thinking and worrying like an adult for a few minutes and reflect on the way the world looks through the eyes of children: 

* One little girl prayed, "Dear God, thank you for the baby brother. But what I prayed for was a puppy."

* Arnold wrote: "Dear Pastor, I know God loves everybody but he never met my sister."  

         * A second grader attended church with his aunt. After they knelt at the altar and took communion, the boy asked, "Is that all we'll have to eat up in heaven?"  

         * A little girl was asked, "What would you do if you were the Pope?" She replied, "I would coat all the communion wafers in chocolate!"

 *  Ralph wrote: "Dear Pastor, I liked your sermon on Sunday. Especially when it was finished." 
         * A boy told his mother he had decided to become a preacher when he grew up. When his mother asked why, he said, "Well, I'll have to go to church on Sunday anyway, so I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell than to sit still and listen."  
         * A boy of 3 watched as the priest, after all had been served, wiped the chalice. Turning to his mother he said, "He's doing dishes now, Mom; can we go home?"
         * Mickey prayed, "Dear God, if you watch me in church Sunday, I'll show you my new shoes." He expected God to show up! 
         * Rob prayed, "Dear God, of all the people who work for you, I like Noah and David the best."
         * Stephen wrote, "Dear Pastor, I would like to go to heaven someday because I know my brother won't be there."  

         * Alex wrote: "Dear Pastor, please say a prayer for our Little League team. We need God's help or a new pitcher.”
         * Jane prayed, "Dear God, I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that okay?"
         * Norma prayed, "Dear God, did you mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident?" Children know that God has a sense of humor!  

         * Lucy prayed, "Dear God, are you really invisible or is that a trick?" Sometimes, Lucy, God is so real I can almost see Him.  
         * Bruce prayed, "Dear God, please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up."  

         * Ellen wrote, "Dear Pastor, I think a lot more people would come to your church if you moved it to Disneyland." Well, adults do have that in common with children; they love to be entertained, even in church!

          Patsy Cline was right. The world would be a more wonderful place if more of us could see it through the eyes of a child. + + +