I heard a phrase today that I hadn’t heard in a long time. “Kiss it up to God!” As children when we dropped a piece of candy on the ground, someone would say, “Just kiss it up to God.” Supposedly that would wash away all of the dirt and make it safe to eat.

It was a young child who reminded me of that. She had been walking with her Mom in the local mall. Mom stopped and sat down next to me on the bench. The young girl dropped her big lollipop on the floor. But quicker than Mom could say, “Honey don’t!”, the young girl yelled “Kiss it up to God,” and popped in back in her mouth.

“Honey, you shouldn’t have done that,” Mom said. “But Mom you told me that’s what you always said when you were a kid,” the child replied. “Yes, that’s because I believed that God could make everything better.

But you should have washed that first.” “But God took care of it, right?” the child asked with concern. “Yes, honey. I’m sure he did. God takes care of everything,” Mom assured her.

“Well then why did my fishy die this morning? Should we have kissed him up to God, too?” she asked. “Well...” Mom had to think about this one. “Honey, God kissed him up and made him all better by taking him home.”

“God kissed him up to God?” “Well, yes. Then he made him better and kept him.” Then with all the logic and innocence her daughter said, “Well, then I’m glad I did it so fast. He’s not getting my lollipop!” I believe God smiled at that one. — Beliefnet.com