I sat, lost in the flickering dance of the fire, the comforting weight of my children beside me. The stars were a brilliant canopy overhead, their light piercing the velvet darkness. A sense of serenity washed over me as I drew in a deep breath, savoring the cool night air.
“Children,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper. “This fire we’re watching is much like love. It warms us, lights our way in darkness and brings us together. But to keep it burning, we must continually feed it. Just like love.”
They turned to look at me, their young faces earnest in the firelight.
“You see,” I continued, “the love I give you does originate from me. It flows from God Himself. It’s a river that originates from His Spirit and flows into your hearts.”
I paused for a moment, allowing them to absorb my words. Their eyes never left my face as they waited for me to continue.
“When you choose love,” I resumed, “you choose God. He resides within you when you choose to love and extend that love to others.”
My daughter’s face scrunched up in thought. “So God lives in our hearts?” she asked, her small voice wavering slightly.
“Yes,” I affirmed with a nod. “He does.”
“And we should love others just like you love us?” my son chimed in.
“Yes,” I replied again, feeling a surge of pride for their understanding. “You’ve got it right.”
“But how do we do that?” My daughter’s question hung in the air.
“It starts with choosing love every day,” I explained. “Choosing to be kind when you can be angry. Choosing to forgive when you can hold a grudge. Choosing to help when you can ignore.”
Their eyes shone with understanding as they digested my words.
“Love isn’t always easy,” I continued. “But it’s always worth it. Because when you choose love, you’re choosing God. And where God is, there is always light, warmth, and life.”
I looked from one child to the other, their young faces glowing in the firelight. “That’s where I worship,” I confessed. “Inside your hearts, where God lives when you choose love.”
We sat there for a while longer, basking in the warmth of the fire and the silence of the night. It was a precious moment, one that I knew would be etched in their hearts forever.