I was not long out of college when we visited my boyfriend’s (now husband) family friends. They were a large, three-generation ranch family in Nevada, and the patriarch and matriarch had immigrated from Italy. Their English was broken and beautiful.
One of their grandchildren, Dana, was about five years old at the time. She was a darling, precocious little thing, who entered the room like sunshine: bright and uninvited, with a beaming countenance that might as well have been a shot of Vitamin D. Dana was the sort of child who could climb into your lap without permission and coax the sweetest smile from the sourest of dispositions. To her, everyone was a friend waiting to be made.
Her behavior reminded me of a familiar refrain from Maya Angelou: “…people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Dana came expecting the best from you, so that’s usually what she got. Her joie de vivre was contagious. It is telling I still remember her name.
I’ve thought about Dana through the years – decades – since I met her, wondering if she retained that dazzling spirit as she grew up. I can’t help but hope so.
We need the kind of people in our lives who help us recapture the joy of being alive. Expecting the best. Assuming you’re wanted and loved. Liking you for no reason other than you’re the only person in the room or yours is the nearest lap to be filled.
What if we lived like everyone we met was a friend waiting to be made?
And what other lessons might we learn from a child?
In a surprising admonishment, Jesus challenged His followers to follow the example of children –
“And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’ And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”
Mark 10:13-16 ESV (and a similar passage in Luke 18:15-17)
Jesus had a strong reaction to the disciples when He observed their response to children being brought to Him; He was indignant. In fact, Jesus told them they would miss out on the kingdom of God if they didn’t receive it like a child.
So, what might it look like for us to come to Jesus like children?
Perhaps we see a glimpse of this through the relationships we have with dear friends and family. Think about how you feel when you’re planning to spend time with someone with whom you share mutual love and affection. You’re likely eager and expectant. Because of the depth of your relationship, you feel safe, secure, and free to be fully yourself. You want to hear everything they have to tell you, and you’re comfortable sharing the most private pieces of your heart. You’re glad to see them come and sad to see them go.
Could this be how children intuitively felt around Jesus?
As children of God, we are known, wanted, cherished, and loved beyond the bounds of any human relationship. Maybe children have an easier time believing this to be true, and their response is simply to give back what they’ve been given, to reflect the love and acceptance they’ve received.
Why is it that what comes so naturally for a child isn’t so easy for grown-ups?
Maybe it’s harder for us to sense and receive God’s perfect love as we get older because we carry the baggage of a broken and imperfect world. We’ve been hurt by people we love in a thousand different ways. It’s hard to comprehend or even imagine the beauty and goodness of God’s love because the way we love has limits and conditions and restrictions.
Faith initiated by Christ out of love is about relationship, not rules. And, our faith flourishes when we get to know God personally and intimately, not just know facts about him. Children haven’t acquired a lot of head knowledge yet, but from an early age, they sure understand heart knowledge.
What might it look like for us to “receive the kingdom of God like a child”? I suspect it looks a lot like Dana — joyfully, expectantly, trusting God to deliver all He promises.
We might not have learned everything we need to know in kindergarten, but the somethings we learned are worth remembering. They might just hold the keys to the kingdom.
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After moving years ago, my husband and I went searching for a church. Our previous church was such a warm, welcoming place. We thought surely we could find another like that. Sadly to say, it took a while. The first church we tried to attend, and we did it for at least 6 times, was a disaster. The last straw was when we signed up for a brunch at a local restaurant. We arrived and looked around. There were seats at several tables but no one made an effort to invite us to sit. We finally decided to sit where we noticed someone from our neighborhood. Suffice to say, after that, we never went back. We chose that church because it was very close by and believe it is important to make a connection with our community. It was not a denomination we were familiar with. After looking around, we found our church. It required a drive but it was like being “home.” Reading your experience brought back that sick feeling in my stomach. But, I am in such a wonderful place having moved back “home” and back at my old church. I, as well as the rest of our tiny congregation, make a special effort to welcome others. That passage about Jesus and the children is so special. It really gets to what is important.
Oh, goodness, Madeline….I never thought that this devo might be a trigger for anyone! So, hugs to you for that past pain (I felt similar from people within the church :(.). What I love for you is that pain’s redemption in you understanding how it feels to be new and using that as a blessing to others. Yes! Nothing is wasted in our lives :).
“What if we lived like everyone we met was a friend waiting to be made?” I lost a dear friend last week and that’s how I remember her. We had moved to a new town and I knew very few people. She just pulled me in as if she expected us to be friends. She was a rare, fun and full of life person. Thank you for bringing me memories of smiles this morning.
((((Hugs))))
I’m so sorry for your loss, Laurie. To lose someone special is heartbreak. Praise God for the sweet memories you share, and I can tell her life made a difference in yours. xoxo
I love this, Robin! We build up so much armor from past hurts, it’s sometimes hard to open ourselves to people. You remind us to draw from our inner child and ready ourselves to love and be loved!
I thought about this when I read your comment, Irene: We are empowered to love and be loved because we’re loved and beloved by the author of love <3.
I wish we could bottle up that childlike faith because then we’d have bigger hearts, and I think we need that right now!
I’m with you, Kathy. That childlike faith AND childlike ENERGY!! 🙂
Robin,
Children see through amazing windows of wonder.
I love how you write and shared your devotion.
Sending you autumn JOY,
Lisa
Lisa,
“Amazing windows of wonder….” What an incredible vantage point.
xoxo
Robin l love your reading. We can learn alot from Children. As they if got something to say they will say it unless scare. Especially the under 5’s. We years ago in our Church this is funny. We had a evening service. Next thing a we girl stood up she was only 4 said when it was quite. It in December. She said will we be much longer. As we only had a evening service not like the morning’s when we also as well had a morning service and stuff for kids to do when the morning service was on. We all laughed. Her Mum brought her to the evening service as she didn’t want to be left at home with someone looking after her. She the we girl wanted to go were her Mum was going. It was boring for her at that age. Children love to be loved and have fun. We are all God Children and he is our Heavenly Father. Iike are Parents to kids and us as Adults he loves us and wants the best for us. Teaches us how to live for him and follow his word. Jesus said in Matthew 19:14 “Let the little Children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” How true that is. We are not let anyone or anything hinder us living for the Kingdom of God. Also in Matthew 18:3 ” Truly I tell you unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven ” That means we have to be like Children and look up to God do as he says. Like Children look up to their Parents Adults they know and do as they say. Even though at times they do like what there Parents tell or Adults. We are the same with our Heavenly Father. At times we don’t like what he his telling us to do. Like Parents and their kids plus Adults. God is the same they tell us things in Love to keep us safe especially if doing something we shouldn’t do. Also we are to love everyone as the kids songs that is good for us as Adults too it is “Jesus Loves All The Children Of The World Red and Yellow Black and White” how true that is we are to do the same. If we lived liked every one we met. Would it be the right way to live. As some People have some strange ideas and beliefs. We have to especially if saved ask ourselves would God want us living like them. Especially if they are not saved doing something you know not right. So we have to live the way God wants us to and is they way it says in his word. So as if we make friends with someone not saved. They want to be made into something. But they don’t know what. Because they have got depression or something else that makes them think all sorts of things. We have to live as Jesus in our daily lives especially in front of people like that. So as they can see the love of Jesus in us. We can tell them Jesus love them. If they let us pray for them. They see that in the way we live our lives. through time they can also be made into the likeness of Jesus and get saved like us. Know they are loved. No matter what they are going through. Tell them nicely and be patient with them keep showing them the love of Jesus through us. I say Amen to that. Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland xx
Dawn,
Thank you so much for being such a consistent reader and commenter to incourage :).
Robin thank you for your lovely reply to what I said. I love all the reader that write the devotionals for incourage. I learn so much from each one. They make me grow closer to Jesus. Thank you all for having incourage for women like us to read and learn what God is saying to us through them. How to apply it to our lives. With the help of the Holy Spirit. Love Dawn xx
Our three-and-a-half-year-old grandson said, “Sometimes you talk to someone and you are friends. Sometimes you talk, and then you are friends.” The bottom line is to talk to people and become friends.
That grandson of yours is a wise one, Kim :). Tell him Mrs. Robin says so <3.