This evening I stopped by to see my nieces and nephews as I wrapped up my day. I didn't have long, but I wanted to wish them a Happy Carrot Cake Jubilee Day, as today is the 8th anniversary of that amazing story! Charley Oak Linden is 3 years old now, and he is an enthusiastic storyteller. When I arrived this evening, he greeted me with great joy and exclamations of love and big hugs, before launching into his stories. I listened, and greeted Juniper, too, who was busy making bracelets for her friends. Everyone else was busy, so I was just going to give out a shout and head on out, when Charley Oak Linden said, "Wait! Aunt Kelly, don't go!" Then he carried on about superheroes and how they fight monsters and win and how they do it, and David and Goliath, and GOD, and fighting. This is usual with him. He loves to fight and win, and he loves David and Goliath. I've heard him go on and on about this topic many times. But then he said something new. He declared with excitement, "Superheroes have battles!" I almost burst into tears. He repeated himself, "Superheroes have battles!" Yes, they do, I agreed. Then he paused and looked right into my eyes, and asked, "Do you have battles? Do you have battles, Aunt Kelly?" The strength and joy and power of the Holy Spirit shot through my whole body, as I looked into his dancing eyes. Yes, Charley Oak Linden, I have battles. Yes, I do. And then he went on to talk about winning and fighting and punching and blood and victory.
His childlike faith and perspective gave me a fresh look at the battles in my life. Suddenly I saw them the way he did. He sees like David, and Joshua, and Caleb. Giants? Monsters? That's what Superheroes have for lunch! Punch 'em, fight 'em, knock 'em down, spill their blood everywhere and kill them! GOD IS WITH US! GOD IS BIGGER!
The last verse of Isaiah 49 came to mind, "I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the MIghty One of Jacob." This is exactly what my nephew was expressing to me, in a way I hadn't quite understood before, but will never forget.
Superheroes have battles! And it is GOD who fights them for us! And GOD ALWAYS WINS! The weapons of our warfare are mighty through GOD to the pulling down of strongholds! VICTORY IS OURS!
