Have you ever watched a toddler with a shape sorter? At first, they try to force the square peg into the round hole. They strain to jam the round peg into the square opening or the triangle into the square. In time, they learn the shapes cannot be forced.


Shape sorters can teach us something about sharing the Gospel, especially with children. We can pray and share, but we can’t force a response. The decision to trust Jesus as Savior and Lord is ultimately between the individual and the Holy Spirit.


With good intentions, we have sometimes forced children to repeat words because we think they should. In an effort to please the adults in their world, they may repeat a prayer they don’t understand or are not ready to say, causing spiritual struggles to arise later.


Of course, we want to share the Gospel with the next generation so they will know Christ at an early age. But trust the Holy Spirit to prepare hearts to respond. It is He who has drawn us to Him with His unfailing kindness (see Jeremiah 31:3).