Become Like Children

 “Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 18:2–4, NLT)

Become like children.

When is the last time you watched children at play? We live near a school and when we drive or walk by during recess it is a glorious sight and sound to behold: ripples of laughter echo off the buildings, chimes of joy fill the air, cheers reverberate across the playground during a game of ‘lava tag’. Even during this crazy season of Covid, the kids are playing games on the playground, swinging with friends, or just sitting and chatting. There is a carefree spirit in the air.

As children of God, are we experiencing this kind of joy? Can we also join in the laughter and play? What would it be like to live carefree?

I was visiting on the phone with a wise woman the other day – my mother. She has just come through something I hope I never have to face, a mastectomy due to cancer. She is also now in the second isolation since March. She is not free to visit her children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren even though they live nearby. Half of her kids live 2 provinces away. She is lonely. She is a widow. She has every right to be frustrated, angry, bitter, living in fear and angst. But this is what she said to me, “Connie, you can live in fear and angst or you can live in joy…you have a choice.” BAM!

I am grieving the loss of nearness. My top two love languages are touch and time spent. Both are taken away for the next while for the most part (I have a sweet husband who is getting smothered these days for he has to make up for what I usually get from my friends and family). How will I choose joy? What is my plan of action? I’m not one of those ‘fake it till you make it’ type of people. And I can’t just sit around waiting for this pandemic to pass.

Then there are those awful masks…my nose runs, my lips get chapped, my glasses fog up. Not my idea of a good time. Let’s go back to the children. I’ve been watching them (not in a creepy way). I’m sure they are not fond of these times either, though they will have some fantastic stories to tell their grandchildren. And yet I have never heard any of them balk at the requirements to don their mask or to remain 6 feet apart when inside. (Yes, they complain but they comply). They know the drill. They adjust. They flex. They laugh and sing and shout. They are showing this older generation that one CAN choose joy even when life sucks, that to comply with regulations does not inhibit their freedom to make the most of the situation and enjoy life in spite of the disappointments.

These children are just as disappointed as we are. They also miss their friends and the freedom they had a year ago. I in no way want to minimize the trauma they are experiencing. However, they are taking the high road, the humble road, and pointing the way for us to enjoy life during an unprecedented time in our lifetime.

I hear my counselor from several years ago when I was going through a particularly tough season and was stressing about possible outcomes. “What is the worst thing that could happen?”, she asked me. I tentatively told her what I was afraid of. Then she asked, “And then what would happen?” Thus, she took me down the long deep spiral of worst-case scenario until we unearthed what was the root of my fear and angst. As I sat and stared it square in the face the fear seemed a little silly to be honest. I am a child of the One True God. What is the worst thing that can be thrown at me?

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39, NLT)

The worst thing I could ever imagine is to be separated from God’s love. This passage assures me that that will never happen. Some day I may be persecuted for what I believe and for telling my story, but even then, no one and no thing can take away my status before God.

So why all the caterwauling about the restrictions the government is placing on us? What are we really afraid of? What if it is all a hoax and we are wearing our masks for nothing? (That would be so embarrassing and a waste of money and energy). What if it is a ploy by the government to exercise power and control until we have lost all our freedoms? (Did the Christians in the first century church have any freedoms?) Even if we lose our lives, God still loves us. It might not be comfortable, but God never promised us comfort, he promised to be all we need.

“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” (Romans 8:18, NLT)

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” (Romans 8:31–37, NLT)

I invite you to watch some children at play in this next week. Allow them to lead you to a place of joy and wonder, to a place of worship, to a place of carefree living. I’ve attached a few pictures of my grandsons at play. The joy on their faces warms my heart every time. Just so you know, they were going through some pretty tough times when these photos were taken. Children have a special ability to set things aside and enjoy the moment. What do you need to set aside so you too can enjoy the moment? Take a few minutes right now to revel in God’s love for you.