As I looked around and took in the scene, the beauty of where I was, Swaziland, struck me. Rolling hills and African countryside surrounded us. Here I was just for a moment, taking in everything that was around me. There were African children, many orphans and hungry, running around with giant smiles upon their faces. What really struck me though weren’t the orphans, but the other people that were there. These people ran around, cuddled children, played soccer, laughed and shouted, played games, and sang. They were children also. Well, not exactly. They were actually our parents: pilots, and therapists, office workers, business owners, engineers, and so many other things.
In that moment the words of Jesus came to my mind “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3). They became children. They humbled themselves and embraced what Christ has called us all to be. They returned to childhood, sometimes a childhood they never actually were able to have. It was incredible to see my parents, our parents, stop for a few days from the craziness of their lives back home. They left the traffic, the stacks of paperwork on their desks, clients and potential business leads, bills, and the pressures and cares of life in North America. There they were, not making money, but becoming richer than any job could ever pay. They were playing with children that simply wanted love and attention.
It amazes me how our whole lives we have been told to act like an adult and be more mature, yet this is the opposite of what Christ calls us to be. He wants us to enjoy the world He created for us, He wants us to have fun, to return to the innocence of being a child, so He can fulfill the role of our heavenly Father. So in order to be heavenly obedient I say act more childish, have more faith, be more innocent, have more fun, stand in awe and wonder of the little things you see in life, and most of all continue to allow our heavenly Father to embrace you and lavish His love upon you!
