Jessica's Understanding of Our Battle

Jessica is thee strongest-willed child I have ever met. She's 7 years old and the second oldest of her 3 siblings, Joclinne, Johanna, and Josiah who I babysit. Jessica has Epilepsy, characterized by seizures, a lot of meds, allergies to practically everything and low mental capacity when tired. Given, these things are true about her. But she fascinates me by her strong will.

Last time I babysat these kids, Jessica saw Johanna put a Band-Aid on her arm. Jessica was then was completely convinced that it was Band-Aid Day the next day and we urgently needed to prepare by unwrapping as many adhesive bandages as possible and stick them to the furniture!! Also, masking tape name tags on everyone including the stuffed animals added to the beauty of Band-Aid day. Knowing that her parents would not appreciate adhesive bandages or masking tape on the floor or wood furniture, I told her, "Band-Aids are only for people, and the tape is not to go on any furniture or floor. Otherwise, have fun! Okay?" Not okay. She was in time out every five minutes for adhesive bandages on the furniture and floor. Despite this, I still found more on the furniture after she went to bed.

But putting her to bed was another story altogether. After the other kids had gone to sleep, she was still awake and wanted to get out of bed. With a plea to God, "Let her fall asleep soon...," I went to talk to her. (Thankfully she was sleeping in her parents bed so as not to wake up her sisters.) Here is what our conversation was like:
"Jessica, you need to stay in bed now."
"Why?"
"Because its time to go to sleep."
"But I dont want to."
"But your dad said that bedtime is 7:30 and it's past that now."
"But I'm not tired."
"Did you know that God wants you to obey your dad? And that by obeying, you make God happy... but if you choose to disobey, it makes Him sad?"
"Oh."
"And if you choose not to obey, it makes the devil, Satan, who is God's enemy, happy. Do you want to make Satan happy?
"Who's Satan?"
"God's enemy."
"Whats an emeny?"
"Its who we fight against in a battle."
*wide eyes* "Whats a battle?"
"Like a war... only this war is one that we cannot see."
*wider eyes* "Why not?"
"Well can you see God, who wants good? Can you see His enemy, the devil, who wants bad?"
"No... why not?"
"Because God wants us to have faith. If we could see Him with our eyes, it wouldn't be faith. But just like we cant see God or His enemy, Satan, we can't see the battle that we are in for God."
"Oh."
"But you first have to be on God's team if you want to fight for Him. Have you ever asked Jesus into your life to be in charge?"
"Yeah I did!!!"
"Great!!!! Well then YOU can fight on God side in this special battle against Satan and his bad stuff."
"Whats a battle?"
"It's like a war... only this war is special and even more important because we can't see it and because it makes up how we live."
"Ooooooooohhhhhh....." (I could hear the *click*)
*As I look at one hand,* "God made you and He loves you. He wants you to obey Him and choose to do good things, like obey your parents and people in charge."
"Like you?"
"Yeah, like me. Other good things that God wants you to do are like being kind to your sisters and brother, doing your best in school, and when you get older, teaching other people to obey Him."
"Hmm..."
*As I look at my other hand,* "But the devil, God's enemy, wants you to obey him. He wants you to choose bad things... like disobeying your parents, hitting other people, lying, and telling others to do bad things. But you can't obey both God and Satan! Who are you going to chose to obey, fight for?"
"ummmm........"
"Who do you want to win the battle?" I silently ask God to make the situation clear to her.
*She looks at both of my hands,* "......God."
"Awesome! Well in the book of Ephesians, the Bible talks about some special armor for you to wear in the battle. You cant see the armor either. But I'll have to tell you about it next time I come over because its getting pretty late."

After "goodnight"s, and I start to leave, I wonder if she has actually paid attention, and pray that she did. But maybe she just wanted to talk in order to stay up later (she would!!). Maybe she is too tired to actually take it to heart. Maybe she wanted the extra one-on-one time. Maybe..... maybe.... maybe..... But then I hear her as I leave, "I'll be thinkin' about all that...." *yawn*

She is going to grow up just as strong-willed as she is now, perhaps more so. If she chooses to believe the Bible with everything she is, she will rarely think of turning from what she believes or rejecting her relationship with God. Her sisters and friends follow her now; what will happen when shes an adult? She's strong, very strong, in will.... God will use her in mighty ways as she chooses to let Him.

I want to be like Jessica and the determined spirit she has.