The first music I ever owned was a self-titled album by Jars of Clay on cassette. Every song on there was a "banger", as the Zoomers would say. One song that sticks in my head is "Like A Child" which draws a lot of inspiration from Matthew 18.
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a small child and had him stand among them. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one child like this in my name welcomes me. (Matthew 18:1-5)
The song was a cool tune but, like most adolescents, I didn't think a ton about the words. As an adult with kids I've been reminded of that song many times.
Something magical happens around the age of 18 months-to-2 years old when your children first start becoming "aware" of the world around them. You get to see them find pure bliss in every small thing around them. My children have seen the rabbits and deer in the woods a thousand times, but they still light up every time they catch one. Each time they see the moon, they yell to get my attention as if they've found a jewel hanging in the sky. Even something as simple as a leaf on the ground captures their innocent sense of wonder.
Now that Phoebe is saying her own night-night prayers, I'm treated to hear her thank God for all the things she is thankful for. Meredith and I will start her out saying, "Dear God, thank you for..." and Phoebe lists all the things that brought her joy. Every night she thanks God for ice cream, friends, her teacher, "purple things", "everybody", "ice cream again", and the list goes on. Occasionally I stop and think, "where has our sense of simple thankfulness gone?"
We are conditioned to obsess over the things we don't have. I want that new car. I want that career. I want that illusive "healthy lifestyle". We can fill volumes with the things we don't have, but what about the things we have? We start almost every Sunday, at Hub Church and Home Church, talking about where we've seen God in our lives. Sometimes we find ourselves mute, unable to think of anything. I can promise you that Phoebe would have something every week: church friends, candy, "Doctor Kelly", Char-Char, ... I wonder how our disposition would change if we had thankfulness like a child. I wonder how much stronger our faith would be if we saw each day as another series of God's overwhelming blessings instead of constant reminders of the things we wish we had. What if we became child-like in the presence of God?
Maybe I do understand the meaning of the song. Maybe it's as simple as abandoning our cynicism and inner sense of entitlement and, instead, seeing the world as full of God's magnificent wonders. Maybe it means not feeling like we have to go through life "like boring adults" and instead marveling in the wonders God displays to us each and every day.
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