child-like
January 30, 2006
CHILD-LIKE
I recently come to develop a habit of observing or talking to kids whenever I have a chance. Let me share with you one of my encounters of their (kids) kind:
Eating alone in Jollibee, I was approached by a mom with her 2 sons and asked if they can sit with me in the table. When I said yes, the mom left, to make their order and the kids took their seats: one facing me, and the other one by my side. When I asked about their names, the kids told me that they’re John and JC which in return I introduced myself as Tito Jay… minus the C from JC’s name. As I asked them how old they were, I gathered that John is 8 and JC is 5 years old. Realizing that the exchange of info was one-sided, JC, the 5 year-old, asked how old I was and with a big smile, I answered I’m 31 and laughed so loud that some people turned to our direction! We waved at each other as old friends when I left … I always smile whenever I remember what happened that morning.
I consider encounters with kids as heart-warming… they have this charisma that I find very fascinating and endearing. That’s why sometimes I still bathe under the rain or eat cotton candy to nurture the child in me. But being 31 years old is a reality that I have to accept and deal with. With such age comes also the reality of the world around me… the ADULT WORLD around me… full of challenges, complications and a continuing battle…
This led me to look at the reason why, when we are faced with life’s trails and battles in this “adult “ world, we would acknowledge the fact that we sometimes have to drop our sword and look up for a smile… ’cause deep inside the armor…. You and me, as a warrior, is a CHILD…
I keep on thinking, what makes children special that they have a special spot in God’s heart? Jesus, in the Gospel according to Luke (18:15 to17) affirmed their worth:
They even brought little children to Jesus to have them touch them; but then the disciples rebuked these people. So Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the children come to me and don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly, I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”
In a complicated life of an adult Christian, we find ourselves being challenged to receive the kingdom of God like a child…. Just when we thought that experience and wisdom comes with age, we are faced with this puzzling idea.
So, why be like a Child?
Maybe because the Lord wants us to have those UNIQUE traits of children particularly HONESTY, PURETY, and OPENNESS…
…that like a child, we should always have the POSITIVE ATTITUDE coz “things will be alright” when they’re are not coming in OUR way…
… to have that faith…a Child-like faith which is ALL-TRUSTING… when, despite the complexities and uncertainties surrounding us, we are comforted in the truth that we have a God who is always WITH us and IN us
… a child-like faith which is ALL-AWAITING … convicted in the fact that God wants ONLY the BEST for us.
We are always given the Grace to worship our Lord. And as we come before His presence tonight, may we have that Child-like attitude…
Let us be HONEST to God about of how we feel… the JOY in receiving a blessing, the SORROW for the wrongs that we have done, the COMFORT in knowing that we live another day, the EXCITEMENT for new things unfolding before us
Let us be CANDID to Him in expressing our thoughts…in expressing our thanks-giving… in asking for our needs… in begging for His mercy to seek
Let us be OPEN to God’s words…. to the leading of the Holy Spirit… as we GIVE to GOD the kind of praise and worship that He so deserve…
