Dec
9
2015
Childlike Faith
Posted in Christmas 6 Comments
The little girl wanted to stop and look at the display.
Her mother was in a hurry.
There were loud protests telling her mother that she wanted to stay.
There were threatening warnings telling the little girl what would happen if she did.
The mother pulled her daughter’s arm towards whatever it was that needed to be done.
The child walked with her little body twisted as she frantically tried to go back.
Her little arm was pointed in the direction she wanted to go.
Her mother had other plans.
I do not fault the little girl’s mother.
We all know what it is like to have our to-do list this time of year.
However, especially at this time of year, perhaps a little extra time is needed.
Perhaps instead of rushing and pulling and threatening, a necessary pause must be taken.
I have no idea what this mother had to do or what she had already done that day.
I do remember having little children.
I remember shopping with little children.
Shopping with little children takes time; doing anything with little children takes time.
Time is a precious commodity.
We only have so many hours in a day.
However, we only have so many years when our children will pull at our arm.
We only have so many years when a Christmas display is the highlight of their day.
It was not just any display this little girl wanted to see.
It was a manger with Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus.
There were cows and sheep and shepherds; everything to captivate a child’s imagination.
Except this story is not make believe; this Story is true.
I don’t think the mother even knew what her little girl wanted to see.
I don’t think she had eyes to see that day.
We have all been there.
We have all missed moments.
How different it might have been.
What a teachable moment they could have had.
A moment that could have been the impetus for discussion.
A discussion that centered on Jesus and all that He did for us.
That same afternoon I saw two pictures that were posted by young mother I know and love.
She has two precious little girls.
Her oldest daughter is 2 1/2 years old and her youngest is 8 months old.
It was a picture of the older one that captured my heart.
The picture was taken by the little girl’s grandmother.
This little one was standing in front of the manger that was displayed on a table.
She is reaching inside ever so gently with her little hands touching one of the figures.
She is acting out the Nativity scene in her playtime.
No doubt, her parents have told her the Christmas story.
No doubt, she loves the Baby Jesus.
No doubt, she is able to retell the Story when people ask her to tell them.
No doubt, it will be the most precious retelling you could possibly hear.
That’s the way it is with children.
Their innocence is so refreshing.
Their grasp of Truth borders on the profound.
They do not bring their stuffy adult selves into consideration.
They stand before the manger amazed.
They love the Baby Jesus with a pure, childlike love.
They tell the Story to anyone who will listen.
They have the sweetest kind of faith.
Jesus said so.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18: 1-6)
Jesus cares deeply about the innocence of children.
Jesus tells His disciples to become like little children in their faith.
Not childish but rather childlike.
Honest, transparent, accepting, and joyful.
We need to come to the manger and be amazed.
We need to reach in and embrace Jesus, once a Baby, then a man.
Always God.
Born like us, yet Divine.
Perhaps that is why a child understands the Story so much better than an adult.
They see their own likeness in Jesus who was a child just like them.
They see something smaller than they are that needs love and attention.
It is only later, as they come to Jesus in faith, that they realize how very big Jesus really is.
All the books in the world cannot tell everything about Him. (John 21:25)
The Baby Jesus is the image of the invisible God. (Colossians 1:15)
The Baby Jesus is without sin. (Hebrews 5:15)
The Baby Jesus is the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
It will take a little growing up to understand all that Jesus is.
In the meantime, there is love.
In the meantime, there is tenderness towards the Son of God asleep on the hay.
In the meantime, there is innocence and trust.
Oh, to be like a little child at Christmas.
Oh, to be in awe of the wonder of it all.
To reach into the manger and hold the Baby Jesus tenderly in our hands.
To know and believe that He is the Holy One of God, the Savior of the world.
We parents have an important job to do.
We have to tell the Story over and over.
We have to take time for our little ones to experience the wonder.
We have to pray that their innocence will blossom into saving faith.
I smiled as I looked at the next picture taken by the grandmother of this precious child.
Playtime must have been over or else put on hold for a bit.
All of the figures were in front of the manger.
They were all lying down in a very orderly fashion.
The grandmother had a caption above the picture.
Even the Holy Family needs a nap!
Childlike faith that recognizes that Babies sleep, even this Baby.
Her grasp on the humanity of Christ was more complete than any theologian.
Instead of having each of the figures walk six inches about the ground, they were real.
They were tired.
They were hungry.
They needed to take a nap.
That is childlike faith at its best.
Jesus, fully God and fully man, lying in a manger.
Stand before the manger as a little child.
Stand before the manger and be amazed.
Time is precious. Moments given by His grace matter. Advent is about waiting, looking , seeking and seizing the moment hugs to you ! Just returned from WA and great visit with son and family! Love to you Billie
Billie, as we wait in this season of Advent, we think of God’s gifts. The most important gift from God is the Gift of His Son. I also think of the gift of friends. You are one of those gifts. I am delighted that you had time with your son and his family. The pictures were precious.
Gina
Undoubtedly you can tell that I am enamored with my granddaughter. Thus the reason for so many photos posted to Facebook. I just feel compelled to share the joy that she brings to my life and an appreciation for her innocence. Your words perfectly expressed what I was trying to capture in the photos. The awe for the baby Jesus – the reenacting of his blessed birth – the interaction of those who gave witness. The nativity scene figurines are made of glass. So when we ceremoniously unpacked them (“Oh, Emily . . . here is a VERY special Christmas decoration.”) Emily immediately reached for the baby Jesus. My daughter called out, “Mom, is it okay for Emily to play with this?” “Of course, she can play with it!” I laughingly replied. To my adult daughter, her great grandmother’s nativity scene is precious and fragile. Now that I’m a grandmother, my granddaughter reminds me that life is meant to be experienced – not observed. And that includes the nativity scene. Today you have honored us by putting into words what we were only able to capture in a photo.
Susan, you have made my morning with your sweet words. Emmie was my inspiration. However, Emmie is representative of all the children that experience the pure wonder of the Christ Child. You are so right when you say, “life is meant to be experienced – not observed.” I’m glad that Emmie is able to play with the fragile Nativity set. She will learn very early that her faith is a precious thing to be cherished. Christmas through the eyes of a child. How much they can teach us through their innocence. Have a Blessed Christmas with your family.
Gina
Love this blog, I have been watching and listening to the triplets as they play with their own Fisher Price nativity scene.. they caught on so fast to which one is the baby Jesus and the angel. They love to push the button so it plays Away In The Manger.. We can learn so much from our little ones if we only take the time as you shared..Thanks Gina
Janet, isn’t it wonderful to see Christmas through a child’s eyes? It is seeing it anew. Children grasp the simplicity, the ordinariness of Jesus’ birth. I desire to have a childlike faith so I will never cease to be amazed. God sleeping in a manger. The wonder of it all.
Gina