THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD
Naivety Trusting Harmless
Innocence No worries Playful
Contentment Gentle Loving
Forgiving Sharing Gleeful
These are the characteristic traits of little children. I watch them play everywhere: at home, at the airport, in school and even in church. I remember quite clearly, the other Sunday, there was this toddler totting and giggling around seated church members while the preaching was going on. He was quite a handful to the ushers who were trying their very best to stop him from running to the pulpit. I was sitting at my usual corner at the rear of the congregation and enjoying every minute of the drama between this toddler and our well-dressed ushers. It was quite hilarious and distracting too. It got to a point that this wily toddler finally escaped unnoticed from the grasp of his mother and the unseen gaze of the ushers and dashed straight for the pulpit to the dismay of all the ushers who were trying very hard to intercept him before he got to the pastor. But God was on his side this time because the pastor actually noticed the unwinding drama and bellowed from the pulpit that the ushers should leave the little boy alone. I and the few others who were part of the silent observers of all the Toddler-Usher drama burst into controlled laughter. It was really amusing and at that moment, I appreciated the childlike and delightful simplicity in children.
Afterwards, during the week, I kept playing the episode over and over in my head. Anytime I remembered it, I would smile. Anywhere children were mentioned, I remembered the same episode and again I would smile. So it got me thinking about the toddler-usher drama all over again and I began to wonder why my pastor had instructed the ushers to let the boy be. Of course I came up with several reasons. One, the pastor might have noticed the drama all along and was watching to see how the ushers might handle it. Two, he might have concluded that a toddler totting around the congregation would do his preaching no harm. Three, we all know that my pastor loves little children. Four, the pastor, like I was, may have been enjoying the childlike simplicity of the toddler who had absolutely no clue in the world that he might be doing anything wrong totting. Whatever my pastor’s reasons were, the little boy could not be bothered – he was enjoying himself tremendously.
And therein lies the lesson in it for me and for you. The character of a child remains the best example of the bible’s description of the nature of Christ. The best verse in the bible that likely describes my pastor’s reason for letting that little boy roam freely can be seen in the book of Matthew 19:14. It says:
But Jesus said “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
A child is simply a child. A child remains your friend irrespective of the color of your skin. The love of a child for his parents is not based on material gains: it is unconditional. Whip a child this moment and the next moment, that child will be unmindful of the pain, hurt or punishment that you meted out on him and would willingly and gleefully give you a hug. Children are a source of joy and laughter to their parents and teachers because they can ask the blunt and most awkward of questions and expect straight and truthful answers. They believe every word you tell them and have no reason to doubt you. A child is ever ready to learn at your feet and is more than willing to go on errands. They are forgiving, obedient and trusting in nature. Such is the humility and sweetness of a child. No wonder the bible says unless you become like little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 18:3)
The principles of Christianity, when done by might of the flesh, are difficult to adhere to. As I often tell friends, being a Christian in the true sense of the word – Christian – is quite a tough person to be. Trying to be like a little child is not an easy task but then Christ admonishes us that, as believers, we must be like little children in order that we might make heaven. Living Christianity by acting all grow-up and adult will not get us anywhere but living Christianity through the eyes of a child will definitely help us to attain our Christ like goals. It is not by our fleshly might that we overcome our fleshly desires; it is by inviting the Holy Spirit to help us conquer the works of the flesh daily in our race to make heaven. On our own, we cannot make it. Only through the renewing and sustaining power of the Holy Spirit can we, once again, become as children. Now, I have resolved that when I get angry or when I am about to say or do something silly, I just might add, “what would a child do in my situation.” It won’t be easy and sometimes I would forget but I’m working on it! May God help us as we continually strive to be like Jesus. I know that we can. Amen and Amen.
Naivety Trusting Harmless
Innocence No worries Playful
Contentment Gentle Loving
Forgiving Sharing Gleeful
These are the characteristic traits of little children. I watch them play everywhere: at home, at the airport, in school and even in church. I remember quite clearly, the other Sunday, there was this toddler totting and giggling around seated church members while the preaching was going on. He was quite a handful to the ushers who were trying their very best to stop him from running to the pulpit. I was sitting at my usual corner at the rear of the congregation and enjoying every minute of the drama between this toddler and our well-dressed ushers. It was quite hilarious and distracting too. It got to a point that this wily toddler finally escaped unnoticed from the grasp of his mother and the unseen gaze of the ushers and dashed straight for the pulpit to the dismay of all the ushers who were trying very hard to intercept him before he got to the pastor. But God was on his side this time because the pastor actually noticed the unwinding drama and bellowed from the pulpit that the ushers should leave the little boy alone. I and the few others who were part of the silent observers of all the Toddler-Usher drama burst into controlled laughter. It was really amusing and at that moment, I appreciated the childlike and delightful simplicity in children.
Afterwards, during the week, I kept playing the episode over and over in my head. Anytime I remembered it, I would smile. Anywhere children were mentioned, I remembered the same episode and again I would smile. So it got me thinking about the toddler-usher drama all over again and I began to wonder why my pastor had instructed the ushers to let the boy be. Of course I came up with several reasons. One, the pastor might have noticed the drama all along and was watching to see how the ushers might handle it. Two, he might have concluded that a toddler totting around the congregation would do his preaching no harm. Three, we all know that my pastor loves little children. Four, the pastor, like I was, may have been enjoying the childlike simplicity of the toddler who had absolutely no clue in the world that he might be doing anything wrong totting. Whatever my pastor’s reasons were, the little boy could not be bothered – he was enjoying himself tremendously.
And therein lies the lesson in it for me and for you. The character of a child remains the best example of the bible’s description of the nature of Christ. The best verse in the bible that likely describes my pastor’s reason for letting that little boy roam freely can be seen in the book of Matthew 19:14. It says:
But Jesus said “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
A child is simply a child. A child remains your friend irrespective of the color of your skin. The love of a child for his parents is not based on material gains: it is unconditional. Whip a child this moment and the next moment, that child will be unmindful of the pain, hurt or punishment that you meted out on him and would willingly and gleefully give you a hug. Children are a source of joy and laughter to their parents and teachers because they can ask the blunt and most awkward of questions and expect straight and truthful answers. They believe every word you tell them and have no reason to doubt you. A child is ever ready to learn at your feet and is more than willing to go on errands. They are forgiving, obedient and trusting in nature. Such is the humility and sweetness of a child. No wonder the bible says unless you become like little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 18:3)
The principles of Christianity, when done by might of the flesh, are difficult to adhere to. As I often tell friends, being a Christian in the true sense of the word – Christian – is quite a tough person to be. Trying to be like a little child is not an easy task but then Christ admonishes us that, as believers, we must be like little children in order that we might make heaven. Living Christianity by acting all grow-up and adult will not get us anywhere but living Christianity through the eyes of a child will definitely help us to attain our Christ like goals. It is not by our fleshly might that we overcome our fleshly desires; it is by inviting the Holy Spirit to help us conquer the works of the flesh daily in our race to make heaven. On our own, we cannot make it. Only through the renewing and sustaining power of the Holy Spirit can we, once again, become as children. Now, I have resolved that when I get angry or when I am about to say or do something silly, I just might add, “what would a child do in my situation.” It won’t be easy and sometimes I would forget but I’m working on it! May God help us as we continually strive to be like Jesus. I know that we can. Amen and Amen.
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