When one thinks about childeren the following words tipically come to mind: cute, energetic, lively. However, most tend to forget these words that also describe childeren: whiney, messy, persistant. Either way you look at it, one thought will not usually come to your mind when looking at a 5-year old on the swings. That thought being, "I wish I was just like them." But perhaps that should be our mind set...
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying lets all start running around in diapers and putting everything in our mouths. On the contraty let me share a stroy with you that might clear some things up. I work in retail and each shift I see several different types of families come through my line. The other day, one little boy really caught my interest. While waiting in line, a four year old boy turned and looked at the couple behind him. The couple said hello and the boy began to converse with them. When his mother was ready to leave he looked at the couple and said, "See ya later" as if they were old friends. Wow, talk about pure kindness and trust. When was the last time you taked to the people behind you in line like that? I can't even remember one time I've done that.
Despite the small amout of time childern have been on this earth, they can teach us a lot. For one, they display hospitality, greeting everyone they come in contact with. Mark 9:37 says "Whoever welcomes one of these little childern in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." Jesus told his desciples to welcome the childern first. Yes, the crying, mess making childern come before any of us, because they are guniunely pure of heart and mind, not yet influneced by worldly ideas.
To surpass the humility of childern, Jesus says in Luke 18:17, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not recieve the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." If that doesn't convince you to be more like that little boy then I don't know what will. He saw no social barriers; had no judging thoughts. He was simply happy to talk to this kind couple and his trusting nature told him that indeed he would one day converse with them again. My hope for the boy and the couple is that they all walk with christ, because then there is no doubt that they will meet again.
So how about this? Let's all be a little childish for God.
There is so much truth in what you just shared! Thank you so much Samantha.
ReplyDeleteMatthew 18:2-4 - "He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Jacob.. That's the verse I was thinking of but could not remember or find when I was writing this. Thanks for mentioning it!
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