My five-year-old grandson is spiritually minded. He treats Jesus like a friend, prays for others, and reports answered prayers. He enjoys singing praise songs. My grandson is “writing” a “book” about Heaven. He’s just learning to read, so his book has random letters and misspelled words. He “reads” about God’s flying wheelchair, His four-faced helpers, and things that may not be true, like toys and Jesus playing with children.

My grandson tries really hard to be a good little boy, but it is super tough to be on his best behavior all of the time.

My daughter and son-in-law are adding an addition to their home. There is a huge pile of sand in their front yard that used to be where the new section of the basement now stands. One day, while my husband and son-in-law worked on the construction project, and my daughter prepared a meal, I watched my grandchildren play in the pile of sand. When I saw things were getting out of hand, I asked my grandsons to take a break. The two-year-old trotted over to the place I asked him to sit, but the five-year-old was mad and picked up a stick and threw it at me.

The stick didn’t come close to hitting me, and it wouldn’t have hurt if it did, but my grandson displayed an attitude that needed correction. After I gave a light swat to his behind, not for punishment but for the Grandma’s-not-joking shock value. We sat down and discussed the choices he was making. We explained who those choices were pleasing.

Then I turned his attention to the construction project. I asked him if he thought the addition could be built without tools. He laughed at the idea of sawing wood with the side of his hand. He joked about pounding nails with his fist. Then I asked, “What would happen if Grandpa didn’t plug in the skill saw? What if Daddy didn’t connect the nailer to the compressor? My grandson replied that the tools would not function. Then I asked, “What if the excavator tried to dig the basement without turning on his machine? What if the semi driver who brought the lumber attempted to drive here with an empty tank? My grandson exclaimed that would be foolish.

Then I reminded my grandson, because he loves Jesus and decided to follow Him, that he had the Holy Spirit living inside him. He had the Power he needed to behave the way he should. But just as power tools need to be plugged in and connected to power, just as machines need to be turned on and filled with fuel, for them to work, he needed to stay connected to Christ; he needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit to be the good little boy he desired to be. I challenged my grandson to pray every morning, as soon as he woke up, for the Holy Spirit to help him be who he was supposed to be. I reminded him he could call out to Jesus for help whenever he found himself in a difficult situation.

This should be a good reminder for us big kids who want to please Jesus, too. We are all called to help build God’s Kingdom, to add living stones upon Christ the Cornerstone and the foundation set by those before us. But we can’t do or be who God calls us to be without His help. By our own might we cannot construct anything of eternal value. The Holy Spirit—the Tool He provides—must be used. Staying connected to His Power through prayer is essential. We must remain fueled up by spending time in His Word. We must continue to abide with Christ for Christianity to work. So, stay connected to Him, and go build something that will last for an eternity.