The Faith of a Child

One of my favorite things about being a parent is the sweet moments that organically occur as I put my son or daughter to bed at night. I usually pick a kid to snuggle up next to for some cuddles and just start talking about the goodness of the Lord. Almost on a regular basis, both of them, in their own way, will start to talk about Heaven. Sometimes there are questions. Many times each of them just enjoy telling me what excites them when they think about heaven. Even my 3 year old likes to image what it will look like, or what it will be like to see Jesus. She particularly likes to consider how much candy she will be able to eat for all of eternity! (Which, I assure her, will be limitless...Hey, no cavities or tummy aches in heaven!)

I love that children are so untainted by life. Kids have faith so much bigger than that of adults. As we grow we start to question God and who He is. We become so complicated. Kids seem to see beyond the physical and into the spiritual world, and sadly we don't give them the credit that they deserve.
                                                           
So why is it that so often we, as grownups, miss the opportunities to allow children to teach us about the Kingdom of Heaven? Jesus valued children. We know it from scripture.                           

Mark 10:13-15

The Message (MSG)

 ^13-16The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.

                   
Jesus told his disciples that they should accept the kingdom like a child. When I consider how my own kids accept Jesus, I see how much I tend to over think things. I try to make the truth of Jesus more complicated than it actually is.

A few nights ago, I was spending some quality/snuggle time with my daughter, Chloë. At three years of age, she sometimes absolutely amazes me with her understanding of concepts that should be beyond her little self. Inevitably, the conversation turned to things about Jesus, and Chloë surprised me. She started asking about Jesus and if He lived in her heart. I attempted to explain that Jesus lives in heaven and that one day we will get to see Him when we go there. She still asked again, "Does Jesus live in your heart"? I tried to restate in a new way..."Well, the Holy Spirit comes to live in your heart." But, she was on a roll. She said next, "Jesus must be really tiny if he can fit inside my heart and He has really tiny feet and hands!"
So I gave up on the specifics.  I asked her if she wanted Him to live in her heart and she said yes.
Before I could even get my words together to lead her in a prayer, she started right up! In her sweet, bitty voice she said, "Jee-in (her way of saying Jesus) come in my heart. Amen." It was so simple, to the point, and she meant it. She wanted to know Jesus was with her and she wasn't going to put it off. Even if He did have tiny feet!

I am convinced that if we lived so honestly, asking Jesus to be a part of our lives in simple terms, rather than trying to be so independent and intellectual, we would live a greater faith. Fancy words don't bring us closer to God. Realizing that Jesus is accessible to anyone, despite age or status, helps us to grasp the fact that God has an eternal destiny for everyone. All that is required is the faith of a child.