A PLUS By Sally I. Kennedy

“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Mark 10:15

McCallen has great big-as-saucer round brown eyes. Her hair is shiny and dark. She has a dynamite smile and creamy olive complexion. She’s our very wonderful, special grandchild. McCallen is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, with her gentle, loving, and kind nature.

A couple of years ago, her parents were with her at a new school for some testing. The facilitator had been showing McCallen oversized flash cards, with symbols and pictures on them, and asking her to talk about them.

After a while, she began to fidget. She’d about had enough when the next card came up with a “plus” sign on it. Without hesitation, her eyes lit up and she responded enthusiastically. “Jesus!”.

Sometimes kids catch on quicker than “grown-ups”. During the years of Jesus’ teaching and ministry here on earth, He once said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” (Matthew 11:25)

A “plus” usually means extra, a bonus, or perk. To McCallen, the plus sign represented a cross. I believe she knows a cross is not just a “plus”, but everything, because it means Jesus.