Just wanted to share some precious stories about my cousin, Nicholas.

Last week, Allison, Nicholas, and I were walking down the street in downtown phoenix and a man who seemed to be homeless walked up to us. He asked us for some money to ride the bus. Without hesitating, my eight-year-old cousin reached into his pocket, whipped out his wallet, looked at the man with a big smile and said, “I have money.”

The man looked at him and said, “no, no, kid…I can’t take your money.” And Nicholas quickly responded, “no, its okay…I get $2 a week in allowance”. As we walked away, Nick looked at us and said, “the sad thing is, he will probably spend it on beer…but he still needs it more then me.” I was so touched at his pure heart and his desire to give, without hesitation. It wasn't just that he was too innocent to assume that themoney would not be used on food...he was so innocent that it didn't matter to him what it was spent on, he just knew he had plenty and this man had little.

Then…this past weekend, Nick and I were hanging out and somehow the topic of kids came up…he looked at me with a total sincere heart…there was no doubt in his mind that he would one day do this, but he said, “Dennae, I am going to adopt five kids. One from China, one from India, one from Africa, one from Russia, and one from Mexico that way I have one child from all parts of the world. Then when we go on missions trips, my kids can translate for us depending on the country we are in.” He had this huge smile on his face and was so excited as he thought about it.

His heart is so special. I totally love that kid. The heart that all of my younger cousins have totally blows me away…you always hear about 2nd and 3rd generation Christians who are totally burned by church and turned off to God, but the Lord has gotten a hold of these precious hearts at a young age and I feel like God is constantly speaking to me through their precious thoughts, motives, and big dreams. I long to have that precious child like love, heart, and passion.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Matthew 18:1-6