As Little Children

[Sayragirl]

We have all read the verse Matthew 19:14 “But Jesus said, suffer the little children and forbid them not, to come unto me; for such is the kingdom of heaven.” However, have we really thought about what this verse should mean to us? In the past I would read this verse and understand that Christ is telling us we are to be innocent and pure like children. But what does that really mean? Especially in today’s age when kids are becoming more and more desensitized to evil at an earlier age. What really is purity and innocence?

Then Jeffrey came into our life, a very special boy with autism and this verse really hit home to me. How often do we get so wrapped up in our lives, in the duties we have to fulfill and the tasks we need to complete, that we forget about really living our lives and loving the life that God gave us. Few of us have the simple joy of children; even some children today are more concerned about getting bigger and better gadgets that they are never satisfied and never truly happy. I sat outside the bathroom door and listened to Jeffrey playing with the bubbles in the bath water and I caught myself making the comment, “That boy has entirely too much joy in him.” And then it hit me, he is an example of about what the verse is saying, the pure innocence and joy of childhood. Jeffrey loves anyone and everyone he meets, he is happy about everything. Just about anything makes him laugh and he loves to laugh. Something as simple as bubbles in the bathtub makes him squeal with delight. He is carefree and trusting. And he loves life.

Where is our joy? When is the last time you actually felt like a little boy or girl in a bubble bath? Do you remember the last time you got so excited for God that you felt like squealing with delight? When that new person came into the church building did you think about what they were wearing or how they looked or acted or were you so excited just to meet someone new, who came to worship God with you? When is the last time you came home from a hard days work and thanked God for giving you one more day to do his will? When things get tough and you feel uprooted or displaced are you still able to love life and love everyone around you? When people are attacking or persecuting you for your beliefs or the way you live your life are you able to laugh and still find goodness in people?

Jeffrey is such a blessing, he has become my teacher. He has taught me how to be joyful and how to delight in life. He has taught me that people are good, I just have to be willing to see the good in them. He has taught me how to live everyday excited about life and excited about God. What an amazing God we serve, in his almighty wisdom he put a precious life on this earth, which some people might see as damaged or not quite right, but I see as a wise teacher with a powerful message for all of us. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).