Become Like Children

AM Psalm 105:1-22 • PM Psalm 105:23-45
1 Macc. 4:1-25 • Rev. 21:22-22:5 • Matt. 18:1-9

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

How do I tell you about how to become like a child when I don’t really know myself? So, I thought about the wonder, the joy, the trust, and the love that I see when I look into my grandchildren’s eyes. When I cuddle with them, I feel their heartbeat against my chest. I smell that wonderful children’s smell. I want to surround them with my love, but I realize I am surround by the total joy and abandonment of their love. They believe and trust everything I say like I am the authority on everything (and of course I am!). I share their joy as we dance in the hose on a hot summer day. Share their wonder as we lie in the grass at night and watch the fireflies.

Totally open eyes and soft hearts! They see and feel everything in the world around them and in their faith in God. We tell them that Jesus loves them, and they believe and accept it because they can feel it. And surround by that love, that trust, how could we ever cause someone to stumble.

I offer you the words to the song “Just like a Child.”

Jesus kindly showed us
That we must be as young ones,
Remembering that in a world of pride,
We need a heart just like a child.
We value others, seeing what God sees through his impartial eyes.

Just like a child, we want to love one another,
With our eyes just seeing the good in each other.
Just like a child, we want to be full of kindness,
With our eyes not focused on what could divide us.

And as we’re getting older
In a world that’s getting colder,
We easily could question others’ ways,
Their motives, and the things they say.
And seeing others as above us is rare this day and age.
Be just like a child.

No great philosophy, no far reaching theology, no complex theory, just simply saying, sit with a child, watch with a child, laugh with a child. Share their joy and their wonder. Feel their trust and love. We are told to be like children. Look at the child you once were and see and feel what Jesus is talking about and grab it!

Written by Chris Schaefer

Reflecting about how my grandchildren have taught be how to be a child again.