If God gave you unlimited power for one day, what three things would you do?
"I would slide down a rainbow. I would have a new baby brother. I would pet a lizard," says Rebekah, age 6.
I didn't realize petting a lizard required unlimited power. But then again, I'm not a 6-year-old girl.
Move over, NASA. Here comes Michael, 6: "I would like to fly. I want to touch the sun. I want to fly past my house."
Michael won't be the only one in the air: "I would fly, make money grow on trees and free all the adults," says Trent, age unknown.
Free all the adults? Trent, what are you trying to tell us? Maybe Trent intentionally omitted his age so he couldn't be traced.
Animals, beware if Hanah, 6, gets unlimited power: "I would change my dog into a cat. I would change my bird into a sister. I would like for my grandparents to come back from out of town."
No small stuff for Kagid, 6: "Build a rainbow, build a world, and make it rain."
Keep it simple and sober, says Danielle, 7: "No poor boys and girls, no lost cats and dogs, and no more beer."
Does this mean no more beer commercials as well?
Lots of friends fixed school problems. Nathan, 8, said he'd "do math problems in one second and be done with homework in a half second because then I could play more."
Vicki, 11, would declare a national holiday "so everyone could get out of school." Marshall, 9, goes even further: "I would make summer last forever because that's the only season I like."
Seasons wouldn't matter at all to Cory, 9: "Stay in bed. Don't go to school. Watch TV all day."
Cory, before television turns your brain into chicken noodle soup minus the noodles, take a tip from Lauren, 8: "I would want to go to school every day because I would still want to learn."
If given unlimited power, Kristin, 8, would help her parents: "I would give my mom whatever she really wanted. I would give my dad $100." So Mom gets out her wish list while good old Dad is stuck with $100.
Victoria says she wouldn't waste her unlimited power on frivolous things: "If a boy or girl got hurt, then I will heal them. I would help God by watching people."
Often, the hurts we suffer are more than physical, says Cory, 10: "I'd have my mom and dad back together because when I'm with one I miss the other."
Andrew, 8, has a plan for transformation: "I would clear the world of litter and sin. Then, I would make everyone like Jesus."
Andrew, I assume when you say "like Jesus," you mean "transformed into his likeness." Actually, that's exactly what God wants to do with us, but he won't force us. The transformation begins with a new birth from within so that the desires of our hearts are changed.
That's why Jesus said, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." Notice it says "whosoever believes." We have a choice.
Consider some advice from Katie, 6, who chose "being with God" as one of her wishes. But don't wait for God to grant you three wishes before you enter into a relationship with him. The power to fulfill this best of all possible wishes is already available. The Bible says, "As many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the children of God" (John 1:12).
Point to ponder: God has given you power to respond to his love. Scripture to remember: "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required" (Luke 12:48).
Question to consider: What are you doing with the power God has given you?
Inspire your children by reading this column with them and visiting the Kids Talk About God website at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. Bible quotations are from the New King James Version.
© 2004 CAREY KINSOLVING