There is something about children and summer. Kids and flowers seem to burst forth in color
over the summer. Their smiles seem
bigger, their expressions more animated and their expendable energy seems to
come forth at amazing levels. It is fun
to see kids enjoy a ice cream cone and run through the sprinklers but it is
quite enjoyable to talk with children.
I think it is partly because a child’s view of faith is
uncluttered with things that bother adults.
I think faith to them is simply trusting Jesus in such a pure and natural
way that it touches God’s heart. In
addition we know that from the Scriptures, that children’s angels have God’s
attention as well (Matthew 18:10). There
is something about their joyful ways, manners, enthusiasm and simple trusting
that Jesus found rewarding and delightful.
He spoke of His desire to have them come to Him when He said, "Let
the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of
heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14). It might do all of us some good to seek God’s
guidance on how we can all be more childlike in our faith. In the book of Hebrews the writer gives a
definition of faith being “substance of things hoped for and evidence of things
not seen” (Hebrew 11:1). Children get
this facet about faith as they seem to see their Jesus brimming with hope and always be
available to help them in every way.
Just listen to a sincere child’s prayer and you will see what your faith is supposed to sound like and watch them them as they talk of God and you will see what faith is supposed to look like.
This summer as you watch children enjoying their days and as
you talk to them ... stop and thank God for them.
Bless them and reflect about the qualities that make their faith, the
very substance of the Kingdom
of Heaven. Maybe in that moment, if you ask God for a bit
of wisdom through a simple childlike prayer, He might reveal to you a deeper understanding of what the Kingdom
of Heaven is really like.
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