Humble As A Child

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. ‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling-block comes! ‘If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire. Matthew 18:1-9

I have often been accused of behaving like a 12-year-old, usually by my own children. I've always been prone to being barefoot, goofy and awkward. I'll admit that the accusations are true to some extent. I loved playing with my children and now with my grandchildren. I love being messy and digging in the dirt. I remind playful and silly even as I am about to turn seventy. But as an adult, I have also failed to be humble as a child, failed to see others and the world with the wonder of a child. I have stumbled into thinking I know more than others, rather than having an open heart and mind for learning and growing still. We are invited to find in ourselves that childlike humility and wonder, that deep force that allows us to love unconditionally and humbly and readily share love.

Loving Creator, you put your love deeply in our hearts

and you made us with intellects to wonder and explore

giving us humble hearts to embrace our whole community.

We are jaded, angry and too often afraid to love

hiding behind our wisdom, our money and our vanities

rather than seeing how we can serve and love the world.

Lord, make us child-like in our work and our rest

let us trust that you have enough for the needs here

and we can work and rest in your arms of love. Amen.