And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3)
In one of my first blog posts I prayed for us to become like children for as the scripture says, until we become like little children, we will not enter the kingdom of Heaven.
This can be taken in many ways. One of which to say that we must realize that God is our Father and we should become obedient to Him. The other is just what the scripture says...become like a little child.
As I am reading Heaven is for Real, I am reminded of just how much a child believes in what some of us as adults fail to see. It is actually quite chilling to read of the words Colton shares with his parents over time. Chilling because I too have heard such similar words from my own Bradley. You see both Colton and Bradley have left their parents speechless and hearts filled with wonder and awe and even a little longing to be so carefree and open with our sharing of the ways we have seen God work in our lives.
With Colton (and I haven't finished the book yet, so I don't know all he has to say), he stops his dad, who is a pastor by the way, in his tracks through statements such as knowing that he should be nice to others and share because Jesus told him to. Hmmm....sounds so much like what Bradley has told me before, "Jesus told me to help by folding my own clothes." "Jesus taught me how to fold them."
While I don't know all of Colton's story, I do know Bradley's. For those who haven't read my first few posts, please take the time to go back to them. You see Bradley from a young age has spoken of the places he has seen Jesus. Right down to describing where Jesus sits in the car. Of course now Bradley doesn't speak of seeing Him out as much, but the reasoning "Well mommy, I have Jesus and God in my heart." He's even described to me how he felt brand new/different after he asked them to be in his heart. And no, this did not come about from my talking about this or even from church. This was an out of the blue announcement one night while Bradley was getting ready to take a shower.
So why is it so hard for us as adults to see Jesus around us? Could it be we have let the world and our temporary home come in the way? Was there a magical age when we no longer saw Him around? When did we stop seeing Him for ourselves? Did He come to us when we were little just as He has come to Bradley and to Colton? What can we do to find the child within and believe as children do?
I can only speak for myself and often I feel "odd" because people expect me to let out my frustrations and to get angry because of the medical challenges we have had to fight and continue to fight and learn to live with, but I don't. I do get a little frustrated at times, afterall who doesn't want their children to live a healthy normal life? But do I get angry with God, sorry, but the answer is no. Do I question Him. Sure, from time to time. But what gets me through is my faith that with Him all things are possible and as Romans 8:28 states "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose".
That verse was shared with me when I was 16 and life was bringing about more change for me. As much as it hurts to have to deal with the pain that I cannot take away from my children, I truly believe God has a purpose for their lives and they must endure their present to become who He wants them to be.
So as you look around you, pay special attention to children. It's amazing to view anything from their point of view because their senses are tuned in to the things that we so often forget to notice or that we take for granted. Stare up in awe at the stars, delight in the rain, embrace the sun. Take in your surroundings. Above all go to God as a little child. Open your hearts so that you too may see through the eyes of a child. Believe and profess without hesitation.
