As A Child

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Luke 18:15-17

I remember the mad dash for the swings at recess and at lunch. We had swings in the park near our library too, and we would run outside, drop our books and hurl ourselves through the air on the swings. The thrill of simply swinging, leaning back and flying through the air is so wondrous and so brief in our lives. We stand rigid in this world and fear change, avoiding swings and other things now.

God invites us on this Saturday to remember ourselves when we were children. We took everything in, we fascinated by the clouds, the dirt and the crawling things. We saw life as adventure and possibility. We opened our arms and ourselves to the world around us. Many of us have been hurt in our lives and so we shut ourselves off from others and possibilities. We go with what we know. God invites us to be a little childlike and open our hearts again. To find God is to find the child within that the Creator made, perfect and wonderful.

Today, I ask God to help me remember the delight and awe of childhood. May we embrace the people around us as a little child. May we welcome the world and the many possibilities that God has for us today. And may we welcome the little children around us, making room in our lives for all.