...other meditations

as a child

did you ever see Christ in a child's eyes? their innocence beams from their faces as if to form a halo about their heads. they put a smile on your face whether you want to or not. the many characteristics of a child tell numerous stories. their unrelenting pursuit for your attention drives you out of your world and into theirs. how can one human being be so influential and so inspirational?

Jesus 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

when i think about my nephew joshua and my nieces abigail, alyssa and madeline, i can't help but notice their love pouring from every part of their bodies. their minds are focussed on the simple. their attitudes have not yet been tainted by the world's value system. they are under the total and complete care, love and trust of their parents. their biggest problems occur when discipline issues arise. their young minds can not comprehend why they are unable to stay up until 11:00 'o clock with mommy or daddy. likewise, they are unable to discern why they need to practice the act of sharing. however, deep inside, they know that they are loved and trustingly comply with the wishes of their parents. they learn in the early stages of life that discipline is associated with love.

this is what most of us adults lose sight of. we miss the point of the meaning of God's discipline. God shows us love in our times of rebuke. hebrews 12:5,6 says "my son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son." how did we move so far away from these words? i suppose, as we grew older we became independent and accustomed to doing things on our own. we detached ourselves from our earthly parents as well as the One who gently guides us and directs our paths; the One who instructs and lovingly disciplines our wrongdoings.

so, how do we get back? as the scripture reads above, we need to come to our Lord as little children. yes, even if you are an adult. uninhibited and free from the grasp of this world, we must diligently pursue our Heavenly Father. we must totally and completely place our trust in Him. as a little child looks to you, an adult, with perfect trust, so you should look to your Saviour.

i encourage you, every time you are face to face with a young child, to remember the words of Jesus. your Divine Father wants you to come to Him. surrender everything into His hands and abandon yourself into His loving care. when you fall down, He wants to pick you up. when you get hurt, He wants to kiss you and make it better. when you get out of line, He wants to lovingly put you in your place. and when you've done your best, He wants to say, "well done!"

as a child,

tamara