Childlike Innocence

There is nothing better than talking to a child.
I was talking to a precious little girl after church.
She is a new reader and just loving this world of books that has been opened to her.

She told me about the story she just read as if we both literally jumped right into the pages.
The characters were her friends, the places were real, the situations her own.
She was animated as she told me the story of a clubhouse…and then, just as quick, jumped to the next topic without transition.

I heard about the prickly cactus candy her Daddy brought back as a special present for her when he was away on business.
I saw the lovely necklace her Daddy gave her…that matched her dress.
I heard about her sister crying while she was trying to read to her Mommy.
She complimented my bracelet and then went right back to her story without missing a beat.

It was simply delightful.
I watched her dancing eyes as she recounted all the things that were important to her.
I saw her radiant smile as she told me about all the things that happened…whether they were yesterday or last week.

I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3)

Think about Jesus’ radical statement.
It is absolutely backwards from the way the world does things.
Children? Become like children?

We have to have our act together.
We have to have all of our ducks in a row.
We have to measure our words, join the right groups, go to the right social events, socialize with the right people.
Become like children? Ridiculous.

Think about what Jesus said concerning children:

• From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise. (Psalm 8:2)
• I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. (Matthew 11:25)
• Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me does not welcome me but the one who sent Me. (Mark 9:37)
• Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (Mark 10:14)

Isn’t it wonderful that God wants us to become like little children?
We don’t have to have our act together or have all of our ducks in a row.
In fact, I think He likes it better when we don’t!

He is the Potter after all.
He is in the business of molding and making us into the image of His son.
Sometimes, the grown-ups we try to be, are immovable.
We resist being molded and being made new.
We are clay pots that continually complain to the Potter.

But a child…
A child will look right into the Potters eyes and tell Him how beautiful His pot is.
A child will tell Him how pretty the colors are.
A child will tell the Potter that they would like to learn how to make pots just like Him!

How refreshing!
How honest!
How real!

I want to be more like a child…especially with my heavenly Father.
I want to talk to Him with reckless abandon, and jump from one subject to the next.
I want Him to see my dancing eyes as they look at Him and excitedly recount all the things that happened to me, whether they were yesterday or last week.

I want to thank Him for the gifts He has given to me.
I want to read His book and tell others about everything I am reading.
He is my Daddy…Abba…and I am safe in His loving arms.

The Mom of the precious little girl told me a story.
The Mom, my little friend, and her baby sister were sitting in the back yard eating vegetables right from the garden her daddy planted.
They were just enjoying being together.

Mommy, everything God created is so beautiful…there is beauty in the kale…in the collard greens…you are beautiful…and…
Her Mom laughed as she remembered her daughter’s sweet perspective…kale is beautiful!

Her Mom asked her where she learned all of that and she said it was just in her head.
Her Mom reminded her that the Holy Spirit reveals things like that to us.
Do you have the Holy Spirit in your heart?
Yes, I do.

How refreshing!
How honest!
How real!

Not a hint of pretense, or ego, or doubt.
No explaining it away.
Just simple truth and surety.
Oh…to become like a little child.