In our youth, the resonating voice of ‘Big Mama’ was a
larger-than-life presence in every African-American neighborhood. Whenever
any child approached the boundaries of decorum and behavior, she would boom
powerfully, “You are getting way too big for your britches…too grown!” We
knew, immediately and instinctively, exactly what Big Mama meant and the dire
consequences of any failure to comply. The hour had arrived for us to
settle down and start acting like the ladies-and-gentlemen-in-waiting we were exhorted
and expected to be.
Big Mama’s corrective diatribes remind me of a signature admonition
of Jesus Christ, who is so skillful at summoning us to higher reflection,
responsibility and renewed recognition of our better angels:
Matthew 18:2-4 (NKJV)
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of
them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted
and BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN,
you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this
little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
One might query, ‘Exactly what is it about CHILDREN that causes The Master to place such high value on
their intrinsic nature and disposition?’ Several character traits come to
mind.
children reflect the innocence of pure
wonder. They somehow see
the world and its inhabitants in ways that are as alluring and awesome as
any bedtime tale that ever crossed the threshold of their hearing and
imagination. How bright and how beautiful are the robins, the cardinals,
the rabbits, the turtles, the sunflowers and the daffodils when glimpsed
through the wide-eyed gaze of a young child! May we adults never
become SO GROWN that we
lose our ability to appreciatively observe a unique sunset or stare in awe at a
magnificent rainbow.
children are QUICK TO RENEW AND
RESTORE. Mere minutes
after the fiercest disagreement they find it easy to embrace, to accept and turn
again toward love. Grudges are a decidedly adult phenomenon, the
combative fiefdom of us grown-ups who have somehow learned to remember things
that are better forgotten and forgiven.
children are FUNDAMENTALLY HONEST. Although they are certainly capable of enacting deception,
the truest tendency of a child is to be transparent and authentic. That
is, children tend to smile when they feel happy; they frown or cry when they are
feeling sad. Typically, there is no fake-face or façade with
children. They are who they are.
children need GENUINE INTIMACY AND BONA
FIDE SPIRITUALITY. Therefore, families
should be nests of security – safe havens and wombs for personal growth and
development. In such spaces, faith tends to blossom organically and
spontaneously, as a divinely-seeded reality. To wit, our children stand
in need of consistent nurture – to be respected, reproved and lovingly touched –
by the caring hands of God and the compassionate hands of His people.
No wonder Jesus Christ held children in such high esteem!
Jesus said, “Let the children come to Me, and do not forbid them;
for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14) So today, I promise OUR
FATHER that I will try my best to become as
A LITTLE CHILD. I will pause to observe
His creation, and I will reflect upon it (and upon Him) with great gratitude
and genuine joy. I will strive to forgive,
just as I am forgiven by Him. I will be
honest, first with myself, and with others.
I will diligently sustain my spiritual connectivity with Christ and the
fellow-children who inhabit and steward this earthly plain. If they are conscientiously and
systematically applied, these four decision-principles will position and
prepare me for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Will you join me in this spiritual quest?
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all
else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
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