I read this book when I was in high school. I don't remember too many of the details, but I remember that I liked the book. A lot.
The book is sort of based on Matthew 18:2-4.
"He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
If a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, then how can we be like a child? The book, written by a dad, describes several different attributes of children that we as adults could learn from. Here are the two things that stuck out to me the most when I read it in high school:
1. Children love gifts. They graciously, excitedly accept gifts, just as we should graciously and excitedly accept God's free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast." -Ephesians 2:8-9
2. Children are carefree. They know that they are not in control. Their parents are in control. In the same way, we are not in control. God is in control. Therefore, we can relax, be a little more carefree.
Now that I have my own child, God is using Riley to reveal several spiritual truths to me. Here's what He's shown me so far:
1. God wants us to cry out to Him. He wants to hold us and to comfort us. But we have to be willing to cry out to Him. Check out the Psalms. They have plenty of examples of David crying out to God.
2. God knows how to meet our needs far better than we do. Just as I know how to feed Riley and how to clothe her, so our Father in Heaven knows how to feed and clothe us. See Matthew 6:25-34.
What other spiritual truths has God revealed to you through children (yours or otherwise)? Let me know in the comments section. I'd love to learn from you.
2 comments:
Oh so many things! I was just talking about how kids live in a world of wonder. I was working in the nursery at co op and the 2 and 3 year olds were playing hide and seek with us. Two kids, no place to hide, no big deal. They just stayed where they were while I pretended to look for them in outrageous places. They they squealed in delight when I "found" them again. No monotony in their world, only the appreciation of the moment.
It's not like God gets tired of painting sunrises or designing snowflakes. I need to remember not to get tired of seeing them!
His LOVE! Oh how much I love Benjamin and I would do anything for him. I think that love is deep and meaningful, but God's love is so much greater. I can't even fathom that, but I now have a better understanding of how He feels about me. wow.
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