Unbridled Enthusiasm

Unbridled Enthusiasm

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“People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it,”” Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭15‬-‭17‬, ‭NIV‬‬.

Recently I walked with a friend and was enthralled with her almost three-year-old. This child's eyes were lit from a heart that has not been broken or weighed down by the cares of this world. As we walked, she led the way and chose a path with confidence. After a while, she turned and asked where the path was that led to her playground. I was surprised that she could not see it, until I knelt down to her level, seeing the world from her perspective.

A child’s perspective and horizon line are different from my own. I can see beyond a three-year-old's point of reference. I saw the path, whereas she could not. But when that promised path appeared, there was a joyful noise that accompanied seeing the path. “You were right! There IS a path! Yay! Let’s go!” (Translated).

As I walk with my Father, creator of all, wise, thoughtful and caring, and He says there is a path, how do I respond?

Do I trust Him? Do I make a joyful noise like a three-year-old? Do I stifle it down, embarrassed at my discovery, because others are in view?  Do I have a private moment with Jesus and give Him His due praise?

For me, it took twenty years before I could see my writing path. God saw it in 2002, but I did not. In fact, when He called me, I laughed. Not a joyful laugh of a child, but a sarcastic chuckle of an adult not yet convinced.

Spending time with a child who’s discovering the world around them is pure joy, and it is contagious.

I am to learn from their unbridled joy and their enthusiasm as they discover God.

Are we seeing life through the eyes of our little ones? Are we noticing their world, their way?

Father,

Thank You for the gift of children, they teach us so much. Thank You that You have placed opportunities all around us to discover our world with child-like faith.

Thank You that Your horizon sees into eternity. Thank You for proving Yourself faithful, time and time again. Thank You that we can trust Your perspective.

You are a good Father.

Thank You.

Amen.