So far this month I have been bombarded with the idea of faith like a child. Everywhere I look or read this phrase is evident. So I’m going to share a little bit about what I’ve learned from this idea of being a child.
Children have been and will always be my favorite. I am drawn to them. Drawn to the fun and joy they posses. They are unhindered. They are walking and playing in true freedom. If you ask my friends they would probably say I’m a child at heart. I have a love for all things Disney that is probably ridiculous, I enjoy playgrounds (especially swings), I like colorful bandaids and blue Popsicles on a hot day. My question is when did this become not normal? When did we decide to grow up and lose our sense of child? When did we abandon our dreams of becoming princesses and princes? Children believe in Santa, the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny because 1. It’s fun and 2. They aren’t taught anything else until others tell them it’s “uncool”. Personally I kept the magic alive and milked it for a lot longer than I should have. Who wants to lose magic? Not this kid. Over and over again in the bible we are referred to as children of God. I want to believe that it is because we are living in freedom to follow what he tells us and because it’s fun. We aren’t supposed to become grown up so we aren’t influenced by what is cool or uncool. We have faith that The Lord is truth and we are able to live in freedom in that. We haven’t physically seen him but we know because we see the things of him. We see beauty in nature, in music and in the faces of his children.
We have been doing door to door evangelism this month and without fail we attract a flock of children. They aren’t turned off like their parents. They gladly accept the stories we share and believe because they haven’t had societies views influence them. It would be a crazy awesome experience if everyone responded the way children do. There was even a time when I was playing and talking with a kid and she took my hand and made sure the same message was shared with her mother. Although they had different responses to me, it taught me a lot on how I respond. An attitude of graciousness and openness goes far in this world.
During our church service we had two little ones sitting with us. They were not a distraction to us and were actually paying attention. But our pastor told us to send the kids away because all they saw us as money. So they interrupted church and sent them away. It made me confused. I don’t care if they see me as money. I don’t have have any money so all they are going to get is love and is that so wrong? I don’t really think so. Jesus did not send the children away when the disciples told him to. The kingdom of heaven is for the children. Let them come and hear. Who knows what the impact a pack of children following Jesus can have on this world. The hardest part of this month is the apparent ignoring of the children around. I understand that adults need to hear the gospel and live a life for Jesus but so do children. They give us such good insight into what we are supposed to be. As children of God we can live a life full of big dreams and crazy fun because our father has conquered all and in control of this life we live. Just imagine what it would be like if you trusted Him the same way that children trust us. That kind of faith will move mountains!
