Faith Like a Child
My mom has always commented on how children seem to always pay attention to me when we are out and about. And she's right- they look at me, smile at me, talk to me. And I often find myself helping children reach things in stores, playing peek a boo in restaurants, or washing their hands in the bathroom when they can't quite reach. So am I the pied piper of children? Definitely not- I think it's just simply that I pay attention to them and this is not a common thing for adults to do.
For the most part, in a child's daily interaction in the adult world, they are essentially ignored by strangers. There are several factors that make them invisible to many adults.
1. They are significantly shorter than their grown up counterparts. Passers by must look down to even notice them.
2. They're viewed as less intelligent, unable to carry out the ever important "adult conversation". What do they possibly have to say that is of any importance to the average adult passing them by in the grocery store?
3. They mess things up- often getting into things they shouldn't in stores, hiding in racks of clothes, and making big messes at the dinner table. Who has time to bother with all that?
But for me, I can't ignore the fascinating world of children. I can't help but notice them. Maybe it's the the innocence with which they explore their world- experiencing so many new things. This brings them joy and I, in turn, experience joy by watching it happen. And I think the conversation is great. I get enough adult conversation- it's refreshing to hear a child's honest, unbiased opinion on life. And yeah they haven't learned how to keep the table neat and tidy, they talk a little bit loud, and they don't know the rules of walking in a straight line down the grocery store aisle.... But aren't there days when you wish you could build a castle with your pancakes, or say whatever comes to your mind as loudly as you possibly can, or hop from one green square to the other, avoiding the white ones, in the grocery store?
3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18: 3-4
Jesus said it, not me. Maybe they're worth paying attention to after all? The God who came to Earth to save us asked us to become like little children. And this is one of the reasons I wait with great expectation to meet my little Bethany. I can't wait to see what she has to teach me about living a life of faith. The Creator is knitting her together right now (Psalm 139) and in a little while her exuberance for life will become my daily teacher. What a blessing!
For the most part, in a child's daily interaction in the adult world, they are essentially ignored by strangers. There are several factors that make them invisible to many adults.
1. They are significantly shorter than their grown up counterparts. Passers by must look down to even notice them.
2. They're viewed as less intelligent, unable to carry out the ever important "adult conversation". What do they possibly have to say that is of any importance to the average adult passing them by in the grocery store?
3. They mess things up- often getting into things they shouldn't in stores, hiding in racks of clothes, and making big messes at the dinner table. Who has time to bother with all that?
But for me, I can't ignore the fascinating world of children. I can't help but notice them. Maybe it's the the innocence with which they explore their world- experiencing so many new things. This brings them joy and I, in turn, experience joy by watching it happen. And I think the conversation is great. I get enough adult conversation- it's refreshing to hear a child's honest, unbiased opinion on life. And yeah they haven't learned how to keep the table neat and tidy, they talk a little bit loud, and they don't know the rules of walking in a straight line down the grocery store aisle.... But aren't there days when you wish you could build a castle with your pancakes, or say whatever comes to your mind as loudly as you possibly can, or hop from one green square to the other, avoiding the white ones, in the grocery store?
3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18: 3-4
Jesus said it, not me. Maybe they're worth paying attention to after all? The God who came to Earth to save us asked us to become like little children. And this is one of the reasons I wait with great expectation to meet my little Bethany. I can't wait to see what she has to teach me about living a life of faith. The Creator is knitting her together right now (Psalm 139) and in a little while her exuberance for life will become my daily teacher. What a blessing!
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