Last July Ava and I visited a sweet, little children’s bookshop near our home. Ava instantly bonded with Rosie and Peanut, a cockatoo and parakeet respectively. For no particular reason, we had not returned to the bookshop until last evening. Over the past five months Ava has often inquired about Rosie and Peanut, and asked to go visit them.

As I pushed open the door last night, Ava spied Rosie’s cage and let out a excited squeal. Rosie was enjoying her bird-seed, lettuce-wrap and was less than conversational, so Ava sang her a song. I was busy looking for potential Christmas gifts, so I don’t remember the song. Ava did tell me that Rosie liked it.

With her Rosie reunion satisfied, Ava set off in search of Peanut. Last summer the little parakeet was perched on the shopkeeper’s shoulder as she stood behind the bar of the café. This evening, the owner’s daughter was serving the hot beverages and Peanut was no where in sight.

“Where’s Peanut?” inquired Ava as I ordered some hot cocoa. “She’s not here” was the reply. Unsatisfied with that answer Ava asked again and received the same answer. She then asked me and I referred the question once again to the girl. “Is Peanut at your home or has Peanut died?” The girl’s irritated eyes answered the question as she once again said, “She’s not here.”

“Ava,” I said quietly, “Peanut died.” Ava looked right up at the girl and began nodding her head as she said, “Peanut’s with Jesus.” The girl ignored her so Ava tried again, louder, “Peanut’s with Jesus!” The girl, busy swirling whip cream on our hot cocoa, kept her face towards the counter.

“Mama, Peanut’s in heaven with Jesus.”

“Yes, Ava, Peanut is in heaven with Jesus,” I said quietly and quite conscious of the stares of the other customers. Ava did not pick up on my subtle quieting cues and went on to tell the girl that Jesus liked Peanut and was happy she was in heaven with him.

This is the same child who had only minutes before had explained to all the present-laden, postal customers in ever increasing line that this baby on the gold stamp was baby Jesus and this was his mama Mary. “Christmas’s not a person,” declared Ava from her stroller pulpit. “It’s baby Jesus’ birffday. It’s baby Jesus’ born! Santa’s a person, though, but it’s not his birffday. It’s baby Jesus’ birffday!”

And this is the same child who sings at the very top of her lungs, “This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it” through the aisles of Cub Foods desperately trying to make eye contact with hurried and preoccupied shoppers.

So here at Aunty Em’s, she was not dismayed by the girl’s lack of interest in her or her thoughts about Peanut. “Jesus loves Peanut,” Ava told the girl once again. “She’s in heaven now, and that’s good.”

Yes, Ava it is good. It is very good. Bless you little child for your lion-hearted faith. May you always remain unashamed of the Gospel.