Like Little Children

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

We have been discussing "letting go" all week along. In addition, all week long, God has been showing me, ever so kindly, how much I have been relying on myself lately. These two things have brought my heart back to what Jesus taught here: become like little children.

It's where God wants me, now, this week, always: like a little child. Not helpless, not pitiful, not whiny. I'm sure that's not His meaning. But in a place, perhaps, of childlike trust.

Mostly, for me, I think of two things with this image.

First of all: the sense of complete trust and safety. I am a child playing in my Father's house. It's His house, His responsibility, His "things," it all belongs to Him and I am able to rest in His care. Really. He does take care of His Household. I am in His household. I am His child. I can be at rest in this.

Secondly, I am completely dependent on Him--in a good way. I spend the day saying, Father, what about this; Father what about that; Father, show me; Father, I'm confused; Father, how am I to do this; Father, I need help with this. I am living in the awareness that He is a very present father. I think of children, at certain ages, where every other word out of their mouth is "mom" or "dad" (depending on who is closest). Mom, look at this; mom, did you see me; mom, help me with...; etc.

God, my Father, has been good to show me this week that I really don't know much about how to do anything on my own. Ouch! But what a freeing place that is! It brings me back to the "letting go" place of just being a child, totally dependent on a Father who is there for me and who interacts with me in my life every moment that I invite Him to. "Father, father, father..." "I can't, you can, I will let you."

I know I have just scratched the surface on what it means to "change and become like little children." Any thoughts?

Comments

[Steve Bogner]

Kids have this accepting attitude - they accept their parents, and their siblings. Now, when they grow older that can change - I'm thinking of kids about 6 and under.

They are also honest about their emotions - when they're sad, they cry. When they are happy, they laugh, and so on. They haven't learned that bad habit of stuffing their emotions deep down inside themselves. That emotional honesty is an important part, I believe, in following God's will.

Kids are not afraid to ask for help. If they don't know how to do something, they often ask someone who does know.

As kids grow up, adults often teach them a lot of bad behaviors. Swallow your fear and just do it, don't cry over spilled milk, you're not like 'those' people, if you work hard you can be better than those people, figure it out yourself - the list goes on and on.

All of this contributes to a bad sense of self that gets between a person and God. I think Jesus is telling us that he doesn't want that crusty, dysfunctional, superficial person we act like. He wants the real person underneath all that. And that's our challenge - as people *and* as parents - developing & maintaining a healthy sense of our true self.

[jmccrimmon]

Some times kids who are whiny are so because they are damaged in someway.. For me it is tempting to believe that God disaproves of my whining, like the intolerant, impatient parent who reacts with explosive anger.. Alot of my journey, more than all the grand plans of ministry, mission, etc.. ( not that those arent important) has been to become like a little child again.. Accepting my identity as a child of God.