I truly didn't expect to hear what I heard.
I did the first 3 words so she understood what I was asking. Now it's her turn to do "can" and she says:
"I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me, Philippians four thirteen."
I was amazed. I really expected her to say something simple like I did - something like, "I can go to the store," or "I can color with my crayons." You know, simple.
Instead, what naturally came out was God's Word. Wow. That must mean it's inside of her. If I have water in my glass, I can't pour out milk. Hmmm...
After being amazed, I was thrilled! That called for a high five and twirling hug. Then I told her to do "for" and she said:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life, John three sixteen."
I'm like, "Whoa!" I didn't expect her to do it again! Now I'm looking at the words like, "Is this possible? Can we do this whole list with scriptures?" Lol! Now it's time to do "go" so I take the initiative and say:
"Go, ye, therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them whatsoever I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the world, Amen, Matthew twenty-eight eighteen through twenty."
She recognized that verse because we say it each Sunday in our church.
So, we go through the rest of the words with the "simple" sentences that I thought we would start off with. We're having fun, we're laughing, we're learning.
I thank God for helping us to be godly parents. I thank God for a church that believes in teaching the bible to our youth. I thank God for His Spirit that prompts us to memorize scripture WITH our little people.
It is never too early to begin going over scripture verses with children. They soak up a lot more than we think and they soak it up a lot sooner than we think they will. As parents, we have to help fill them up with the goodness of the Word so that the goodness of Word can flow from them naturally.
But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 9:14 (NKJV)