“And he[Jesus] said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.!”  Matthew 18:3 NIV

Several years ago, there was a song I enjoyed entitled “I Want to Be a Child Again” (The one by The Fisherfolk, not Matt Papa).  The words were, in part:

                                   I want to be a child again.

                                    I want to see the world through five-year-old eyes,

                                    To walk with my Lord wherever He may lead

                                    To put my trust in Him.¹

We live in a world that no longer seems to value childhood, that is constantly pushing youngsters to become adults before they can fully experience the joys of life as children.  Yet, Jesus said that, not only should be let children be children, but that we should become more like them.  What does that mean exactly?  Well, for starters, here are some interesting facts from that definitive work, Uncle John’s Extraordinary Book of Facts and Bizarre Information (Yes, it is the same “Uncle John” who publishes the Bathroom Reader series):

• A child laughs about 400 times a day. An adult laughs about 15 times.
• The average child uses 730 crayons by the age of 10.
• A four-year-old child asks about 437 questions a day (Remember, this is an average; yours may be much higher).
• Sixty-five percent of American kids have had at least one imaginary friend by age seven.
• On average, kids ages two to five put their hands in their mouths 10 times an hour (Adults tend to substitute feet for hands).
• Twenty-one percent of U.S. children say that, if they were president, they’d eat ice cream for every meal.”

When was the last time you felt like a child?  Jesus is not telling us to be childish but rather childlike.  We need to laugh more, play more, love more, to be more trusting of one another and less judgmental.  Perhaps most importantly, as children look to their parents for provision, protection and love, we should see God as our Heavenly Parent, one who desires that relationship with us.  Jesus said,

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11 NIV

How about this:  The next time you see your children or grandchildren doing childlike things, or pass a playground where children are playing, or see our St. Dunstan’s kids here at church interacting with one another, stop for just a moment and think about letting yourself be a child again.  You can start by talking to God as His child.  Children seem to have the ability to talk to God in the way we as adults should. Our Heavenly Father wants us to come as we are and present our prayers humbly before Him. Somehow, as we grow older, we tend to withhold our true thoughts and feelings. When it comes to talking the Lord, we need to be open and not worry about what others may think or even what we fear God will think. He is a loving Father and wants us to go to Him with our fears, worries and joys.  Tell him your desires, your concerns, your hurts.  Thank Him for His blessings and care for you. Remember you are His child, and He loves you more than you can imagine.

Prayer:  Loving Father, amid all of the adult happenings in my life, help me to see you through childlike eyes and to know your love and feel your care. AMEN.

Blessings,

Steve+