CHERISHING THE MOMENTS: 'Who is Solomon?'

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Christian Examiner) — I had the coolest conversation today that began with a question from my 9-year-old grandson on the way home from church.

"Who is Solomon?" he asked.

"A very wise king in the Old Testament," I answered.

My 7-year-old granddaughter piped up. "How do you know?" she asked.

"Didn't you go to seminary? my grandson asked.

"Hmmm, well, no, I didn't go to seminary, but I did take Old and New Testament classes in college because I went to a Christian college. Besides that, I was in Sunday School and church from the time I was 11 or 12, and even before that I spent a few years in Catholic school in religion classes. So, yes, the subject of Solomon has come up."

"Ok," the kids said.

I used the opportunity to tell them that whether they learn about the Bible in church or in Sunday School, they could always also read the Bible for themselves and study it.

The thrilling part is later when tucking in my grandson, he thumbed through his old, worn Veggie Tales Bible we had given him a long time ago. I could tell he's been reading it.

"Look Nana, I found out about Solomon. 1 Kings. He was, well, a king with a lot of wisdom."

"Yep," I said, heart melting.

Just a few minutes prior we had spoken of a situation that needed a lot of wisdom, and so I also went back and showed him 1 Kings where King Solomon gives wise counsel to the two women with the baby.

We talked about walking in the light and how you cannot walk both in the light and the darkness.

After he prayed, I backed down the ladder from his bed, rubbing my cheek where he kissed it.

Cherishing the moments. Every one.

Joni B. Hannigan is executive editor and director of operations for the Christian Examiner. She resides in Jacksonville, Florida, where she is a member of First Baptist Church. Joni has two children who along with their spouses all reside in Jacksonville with her six grandchildren.