We hear, and overhear, all day. At home especially, living together. Especially the little ones, we don’t call them “little sponges” for nothing.

Sometimes the mini-me moments we hear are so demoralizing. Oh no, they are picking up THAT? Oh no, I sound like that?! But then, sometimes, there are other moments that send your heart so high that it reaches heaven itself. not kidding. Heaven itself. it has to.

I found Geneva in the corner the other day reading to her doll, telling her about Jesus, about “the Lord,” and singing “lead me on and I will run after You, lead me on and will run after You.”

Most of you probably know that chorus well – it’s from this song from Passion-

Give me one pure and holy passion.
Give me one magnificent obsession.
Jesus, give me one glorious ambition for my life:
To know and follow hard after You.
To know and follow hard after You,
To grow as Your disciple in the Truth,
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing You my Lord.
Lead me on, and I will run after You.

The fact that she was singing this song hit me hard that day. You just don’t realize what they are picking up, you know?  This is one of the most significant worship songs to me as it embodies Ps. 63:8: “my soul followeth hard after Thee.” I’ve considered this to be my “name verse” – meaning the verse associated most closely with the meaning of my name “follower of Christ.” To me that means to have a determined, purposed abandon to follow my God – fully consecrated to Him, fully trusting in Him, fully dependent on His word, to the end. I want nothing more for my children; I tell Geneva that often.

Then you hear these things and others, like when she says she is “part of Jesus’ kingdom!” and you can only fall on your face and thank God. That He is intervening on behalf of your childrens’ hearts. That He is hearing your prayers. That He is at work. That He is having mercy on them, on us, on me.

For there is no amount of force that can make her little heart love Jesus. I do pray that she pants for the infectious love that I have for my Savior when she sees it, but I know that ultimately I will be a road sign pointing her the right way.

I’m so amazed and thankful I get to share in her journey, though. And that I get to spend my days overhearing little faith grow, like prayers that say “Heavenly Father, I thank You for You.”