Michelle, Augie, and I were returning from Bible Study yesterday, and (as is quite often true) I had my iPod playing on shuffle through the car's stereo. I believe were were enjoying a song by Christina Anu when Augie made a simple request. (If you are not familiar with Anu, she's an Australian singer whose largest hit was, "My Island Home.")
What was Augie's entreaty?
From the back seat he said, "Augie's church music?"
Christina Anu shouldn't be insulted at the little guy's request for a change of genre—Augie knows that I have quite a few of his songs in my library, and it's good that kids like hearing other kids sing. What was surprising was that just after he asked…within a couple seconds…VeggieTales came on.
A little blonde curly-haired boy petitioned, and the Lord delivered. God blessed our music-loving munchkin.
(Although, as I thought about it, it also hit me that He could have been punishing our tyke's parents. :-))
Can I prove there was divine intervention in my iPod's random shuffle? No. But, in my previous article, "Mighty Mouse come down and save the day…," I ruminated on a previous bit of musical timing:
[By the time] I reach the final jogging cycle I'm pretty much spent. I was pleasantly surprised this morning, just as the last interval began, to have Tesla's "Mighty Mouse" start playing through my headset. It's a favorite song for both Michael and me, and was a perfect tune to provide motivation through that last painful minute and a half.
Was it luck? Coincidental timing?
God causing my iPhone's shuffle mode to play the song I needed just as I needed it?
Perhaps that last suggestion seems a bit foolish—but haven't you had similar serendipities? Ones that, at the time they occurred, led you to say, "Thank you Lord"?
Although I concluded that I really didn't think God "was messing with my morning jog's playlist," I also shared some scriptures that showed that life's little serendipities very well could be sent down directly from heaven.
It seems to me that with children there is all the more reason to think that the Most High might step in (even with the little things). I get a ton of enjoyment out of Augie's happiness with the most simple things—like the smile I got today when I came home and handed him a package of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. And just as my confectionary gift was proactively provided in part because I know how pleased Augie would be, can't we all imagine our Heavenly Father acting like a celestial DJ and causing some singing vegetables to come through my Cube's stereo to brighten a three year-old's ride home?
Or does it seem that the Creator of the whole universe has more important things to do than provide for the melodious enjoyment of a rug rat? Does God really have time for children?
If we look at the One who uttered, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9, English Standard Version), we can see a clear "yes" in action. Perhaps the most revealing case was when Jesus' disciples proactively figured the Son of Man was too busy to be bothered with a bunch of half-pints:
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." And he laid his hands on them and went away (Matthew 19:13-15).
If the Son of God on earth had time for "little children," clearly the Father in Heaven, who Jesus is "the exact imprint of his nature" (Hebrews 1:3) did too. If that's not enough, Jesus…who told us that the Father Himself loves us (John 16:27)…also shared this interesting note about some heavenly meetings:
See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven (Matthew 18:10).
We don't have to look to the Son to see if the Father has the same kind of love we do for little ones—the celestial veil was moved aside long enough for us to see God holding conferences with guardian angels about our youngsters. Now, I know I'm prejudiced, but I am going to assume that Augie's seraphic custodian is the archangel Gabriel, and I could see him and the Father having this quick discussion this morning:
God: "So how is my little Augustine doing?"
Gabriel: "He's growing up fast and learning a lot…but he's also showing a bit of his dad's stubbornness."
God: "I noticed that. Concerns?"
Gabriel: "Not really…his heart seems in the right place. Only yesterday he asked his parents for ‘church music.'"
God: "I know. Since he requested it and I get the biggest kick out of his cherubic smile, I put VeggieTales on. :-)"
Gabriel: "That was you?!?!"
Ultimately I don't know if our Father DJ'd my iPod last night or not…but I do know regardless that He has blessed Augie so much already, and that children (and their happiness) are a greater blessing to parents than any of us deserve.
Even if it means we have to listen to the VeggieTales sometimes. 🙂