Monday, November 3, 2008

Become Like Little Children...

I wanted to share something with you today that my son posted on his family site and it really touched my heart...I hope it touches yours too. Have a blessed Monday!
"Matthew 18:3 says "And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'
"Growing up this verse or this concept was always related to a child's faith. Jump off the table and daddy will be there to catch you; get hurt and mommy will be there to comfort you. A child has absolute faith in their parents to be there for them and in turn we have been taught that this is the meaning of the verse.
After being a father for only one year I have come to a different understanding of this verse.
Have you ever watched your child through the day; watched how they interact with their parents. Mom and Dad literally ARE their life. One story for us particularly comes to mind to describe what I mean.
Liss and I were getting ready to eat dinner one night so as always we had our TV trays set up in the living room. Keira was playing around the couch and Liss was going into the kitchen (probably to get the food...I don't remember why because this isn't the important part). Upon seeing Liss leave the room as she often does Keira started following her mommy out.
Problem: The TV tray next to the couch was directly between her and the path to get to mom. Solution: Who cares.
Keira proceeded to try and push her way through the hole between the tv tray and the couch. She of course started crying because she couldn't make it through, but being a typical father I decided to wait a moment and see what would happen. Would she backtrack, sit up and wait for help? Neither.
This little girl was so intent on getting to her mother that she didn't care what stood in the way. She wasn't making any headway. It was obvious she would never make it through, but this little girl didn't care. She kept pushing and pushing causing more pain to herself until daddy finally came to the rescue and freed her from her prison allowing her to continue her single-minded pursuit.
This is the understanding I've come to know from this verse. It's not "jump and I will catch you" it's "push, pull, scrunch, twist...do what you have to do to seek me with all your heart.
"Do this...be like a child. Have a single-minded pursuit of me like a child. Stop at nothing to find me like a child.
Matthew 18:3 says "And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"

2 comments:

Sherry Williams said...

Sandi...that was such a beautiful story! It made tears come to my eyes! Thanks for posting it....we all need a little reminder now & then! hugs, Sherry

Anonymous said...

Wow - what an amazing son you have and how proud you must be of him! Such a great story and analogy-
it really brightened my day :)

Cheers,
Laura
xxx