Look To Children For Inspiration

Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. (Luke 18: 16-17)

Growing up, my family watched family videos, which embarrassed me as a child.  Now that I am older, it’s okay but I have found I am doing the very same thing to my son.

The other day my wife was showing some family videos of our son to his grandparents when he was about four years old. In the video, our son had a T-shirt on which said: “I ‘Heart’ Grandpa”. Our son tried to read it upside down pointing at each word mumbling the words at first. When my wife tried to correct him, he said, “No, no, no…you are messing me up.” She then asked giggling, “What does it say? He then said, “It says I love Grandpa.” My wife then asked him, “Do you love Grandma?” He responded “Yes.” Then my wife asked, “What about daddy?” He responded again with another long drawn yes. He then in a soft child’s voice he said, “I love everybody.”  We can learn a lot from our children, especially from their innocence.

The little video of my son reminded me of a passage in the Bible when Jesus spoke:

But Jesus called for them and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. (Luke 18: 16-17)

After we watched the video, my son, who is 12 years old now, felt slightly embarrassed, especially being in front of his grandparents. I told him he had just given me an idea for my next article. In fact, this little video was something to remember, to reflect on. 

Loving anyone and everyone, much like my son said seems like such a simple innocent thing to do, but in reality, it is of the hardest things to do.  Jesus stated:

Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.  But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:34-36)

Why just love those who only love you, when you should love everybody? We all can learn from children.  We especially can learn deep spiritual truths from what appears at first glance to be silly home videos. Yet as adults we understand we can only love everyone with, through and in the power of the Holy Spirit because it is impossible to love Like Jesus on our own.