A breeze is wafting through our home. A breeze! How wonderful to have the windows and doors open, the smell of the new air, the pregnancy of spring, the momentum of increasing activity as neighbors seemingly begin appearing as if awakened from their hibernation.
My granddaughter is discovering our front yard: grass, mud, squiggly things. Her big brother is playing ball while Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa stand and talk gibberish. That’s my granddaughter’s world; she lives in the “now.”
She has scattered memories of yesterday, and the day before and more, stretching back into the mist of her past. She has expectations for today, but none cause her to worry, for there’s an unspoken and inexpressible trust she has in her parents to meet her needs and even more than needs.
The sights and sounds of motorcycles, birds, children’s voices and family all melt together to create a song of joy that heals something within me that I had not perceived as ill.
Jesus …called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:2-4 (NIV)
You see, Jesus’ teaching was in response to “…the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1) The disciples had an “ill” in them which they didn’t even know they had. They were seeking power and position; things we adults value.
God doesn’t want childishness, but unless we change, unless we become like my granddaughter, unless we are willing to let go of all those “grown-up” things we carry on our backs and cling to in our lives (Matthew 19:16-22), we cannot grasp what Jesus offers us. We have no possibility for the healing of the thing within us that we had not perceived as ill. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
Casting Crowns – Who am I – https://youtu.be/mBcqria2wmg