E-votional - Inner
Child, Won't You Please Come Out!
July 11,
2001
Verse:
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 30:14
(NIV)
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?matthew+18:1-10
Thought:
Walking from the kitchen, there was a
familiar smile that crept up upon her lips. Mischievous, yet innocent,
curious, yet guarded, looking around, thinking no one was around, she jumped
up to touch the ceiling. As she came down to a squat she let out
a quiet whoop and pumped her arms twice. "Still got it."
Hear the Good News, as
children our faith and understanding in life is pure and innocent, guarded
but confident, curious, yet satisfied. The world has not yet jaded our
understanding of any dichotomies between sexes, race, age or politics.
Good is good and bad is bad, there are not the exceptions to the rules,
little white lies do not exist, love is 100% and doing something such as
drawing a picture for a friend makes your day. But unfortunately,
along the way, the complications of sex are not relegated to mere gender,
race equality does not refer to who get the head start, age is not something
you look forward to on that special day the hellos of life begin to become
less and less meaningful and sincere. This, I think is just the tip of
the iceberg Jesus addresses in the passage above. Be like that of a
child. Not the immaturity, but have the vision and unscarred joy of
the child. Children are eager to learn, willing to accept, yearning to
love. As adults, I fear we are far more eager to stop, willing to
do what we must, yearning for different circumstance.
When was the last time you called for that
inner child within you to come out and play?
Gracious
Father, in
the truest sense of the word, heal the wounds within that I might play again.
For far too long I have built wall after wall, seeking to be an
"adult," longing for the "right life," when in fact the
right life is that without the walls we so guardedly build. Let my
life be about acceptance, not conditions, let it be about eagerness, not
avoidance and about sincerity instead of emptiness. You have in fact
brought to my life so much to be eager about, such an incomprehensible
acceptance, as well as everything that is real. Let me share this. Thank
you Father, for all You have
done and all You will continue to do in my life. Amen.