Mar 23 - "Childlike"

Mark 9:30-41
"Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, 'What were you arguing about on the way?' But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, 'Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.' Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 'Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.'”
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Jesus talked about children a lot. In addition to the passage above, He said: peacemakers are the children of God; we should become like children in order to enter Heaven; He commanded that His disciples should let the children come to Him.

What does it mean to me childlike? Having 3 daughters and 13 nieces and nephews...most of them being under age 10...I have had the opportunity to see lots of children in action over the past few years from the perspective of an adult, father and uncle.

Here's what I notice about children:

...children can make a plaything out of the most obscure items...a stick, a rock, or a discarded piece of plastic can be better than the hottest new toy or video game

...children love intensely...have you ever seen a child lose their favorite stuffed animal?

...children are often more fascinated by the packaging, bows and boxes than the gifts inside them...take bubble wrap, for example

...children run...not as a means of exercise, but as the most fun and efficient way to get anywhere fast

...children speak their minds openly...the things that come out of their mouths bring us great joy, laughter or inspire us to our core

...children accept new people into their lives with excitement and hope...anyone is a friend at the playground

...children smile more than they frown, laugh more than they cry, love more than they hate

I think Christ talks about children so much because, not only does He want us to take a childlike point of view in our faith and relationship with God...our Father...Abba..., but that He wants us to recognize the gifts that can come from a childlike point of view. As adults, we can complicate, caveat, couch, hedge, analyze, plan, rethink and strategize the pure joy and excitement out of any situation. We develop very complex points of view on myriad topics as well as the people we know or don't even know.

Christ calls us to be like children and embrace the childlike point of view because, if we discount the wisdom, value and joy a child or childlike person can bring to our lives, we are missing out on an important part of the total picture.

So, be childlike. Love fiercely. Run, jump and play with intensity and joy. Accept the view a child brings with openness and warmth. For when we welcome a child in the name of Christ, we welcome Christ Himself into our lives.