...a childlike mission possible

As it’s Christmas, I have been wondering a lot about life as seen through a child’s eyes and what this looks like, how we all have it and yet lose it.

We are told throughout the bible that we are born sinful and yet as a new born child we are the most innocent and perfect we will ever be in God’s eyes. Many of the verses in the bible that talk about children, talk about acceptance and simplicity – a sense that as we get older we confuse, complicate and blur that which God wants of us and wants us to be.

Matthew 18: 1-5

"Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me."

Children often accept others as they are – no matter how different they maybe from themselves. Children express themselves openly – emotionally, physically and verbally. Tears, tantrums and giggles. Fighting, running, nurturing and learning /experiencing the effect of words.

So does God expect us to accept, see and experience life as children do? As children we experience life short term. Children live for the day, telling a child to wait for a treat/holiday that is months away is beyond comprehension. Our lives are in God’s hands, nothing is assured even though as adults we have the ongoing desire to plan. Adults often talk about living for the moment and perhaps we have fleeting desires to do so but how often does that feeling last for?

Children are optimistic, open and expectant – nothing is impossible. However, as we impart, receive and share the all important knowledge from child to adulthood our doors actually close in an ever increasing tunnel. We shut down to experiences, we shut down to expectation and we lose the excitement of life that God implanted into each of us. As parents we spend time trying to ensure we ‘teach’ our children more…

More knowledge, more about life around us and more about relationships with each other. So what is in more, that is better? Certainly the more choices I have, the more options in life, the more confused I can become. The more there is to discern and the chances of making the wrong decision increase.

I wonder if our desire to know more comes from the initial sin for knowledge in the Garden of Eden. That we could have and know it all. So as parents, is our desire for our children to know more and have more sinful? 

In general, the life expectations and lifelines we each desire are man-made not God made. If we trust and believe in God, anything is possible – we simply need to see and experience life as a child.