Child-Like Faith...

Have you ever wondered about the greatest in the Kingdom of God? They are the honest, sincere, child-like people. I have a great-niece that is the sweetest, most honest and authentic person I know. She talks from a humble heart and has a “seems to know her place” disposition. Her genuineness and pure heart stand out in her behavior. When you tell her a story and she doesn’t quite understand, she asks questions, not out of frustration, but in a way that is inviting, like a fresh clean sheet of paper waiting for someone's masterpiece to be written on. It’s like someone discovering something for the first time. The excitement and joy that exudes from her is captivating. It’s like driving out in the countryside and seeing a newborn calf jumping up and down, twisting it’s body in unnatural positions, all in the name of joyful wonder, as if to say, “I do it because I can and it brings me joy”. In the movie “Goodbye Christopher Robbins”, author A. A. Milne rediscovers the joy in life after experiencing being a soldier in WWl and living with PTSD, by spending time with his son, whom he calls Billy Moon. His son’s childlike faith, imagination, and wonder, help transport Milne into a world where there’s hope, something the real world had little of after the "war to end all wars". Spending time with his son helped Milne see the good in the world, instead of the realities of war and all of its consequences. In one instance, Billy Moon rescues his father from an episode of PTSD by reminding him that bees make honey. They love to make honey, not be a nuisance. It inspired Milne so much that he created “Winnie the Pooh”, the most beloved childhood book of all-time. Milne didn’t want to make people laugh anymore (for He was a playwright), he wanted them to “SEE”. In all of his attempts in his writings to promote peace, he failed. It wasn’t until his son showed him the goodness in the world that Milne finally accomplished his goal. But instead of making the world "see", he gave them a much greater gift, HOPE. It was his son’s child-like faith that turned his sadness into his redemption. It wasn’t until last Summer, I got to spend some time with my great-niece, that this passage has come to life. Child-like faith isn’t impossible to regain (most adults seem to lose), for we serve the God of the impossible. Child-like faith, like that of my great-niece, is simply knowing your place in this world. Knowing Who we are accountable to. Knowing we are blessed. Knowing that being honest with yourself helps embrace the truth (for we can’t change truth anyway). Knowing that everything happens for a reason. Knowing that no matter how old we get, salvation/forgiveness is the greatest gift God can ever give us to show how much He loves us, and we should cherish it everyday. And finally, knowing that whatever happens God is in control, we are safest in His will, and that He’s got our back no matter what. This is the child-like faith Jesus describes here. It’s no wonder when God says He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble, I now have a face to put on that “Humble” concept. Thank you Ava, for giving me a glimpse into your world, and greater depth into the truth of this passage.

1 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”2 Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. 3 Then He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf is welcoming Me.6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.

10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of My heavenly Father. Matthew 18:1-7 & 10