Do You Treat God Like Old Aunt Myrtle?
When ever I have hear this verse taught the point is pretty much the same: we should have a child like trust. What does that even mean? It gives me a vision of children sitting around gazing up at us with trusting goo-goo eye all day. As if. Obedience? Ever known any real-live children?
Become like little children. Perhaps Jesus meant this comment more literally than we usually take it. I happen to know a thing or two about children and off the top of my head, here’s a quick list of typical behaviors:
They bring you their boo-boos to fix
They follow you around chattering about any little thing they can think of, just to be with you
They ask questions – lots and lots of questions
They test boundaries
They look to you to show them who they are
They sometimes have to learn things the hard way
They like to make you laugh
They seek you out when they are lonely, bored, restless
They like to learn more about you and your life
They ask more questions
They like to show off what they’ve learned
They want you to approve of them
They want to share all the tiny details of their lives with you
They must often be prodded, pushed, persuaded and sometimes even punished to behave properly
Their love for you sometimes boils over and they have to let you know how much they love you
They push back to learn where and how firm the boundaries are, what the motivation is, and if you can be trusted to be fair
They need you to understand them when they mess up and forgive
Of course, not all children behave like this. Some have been hurt and have withdrawn. Some are afraid. Some children hide from the adults in their life in order to avoid criticism or punishment. If we are not careful, we may find ourselves approaching God this way. Instead of running in with mud all over to show off the frog you just found, do you approach God more like he’s an elderly relative who expects you to be well behaved, clean and sitting still?
How different would it be if you approached God like a happy child with a doting parent:
I bring God my boo-boos to fix
I just chatter to God in my head through out the day
I ask God questions – lots and lots of questions
I test boundaries
I look to God to show me who I am
I sometimes have to learn things the hard way
I like to make God laugh
I seek God out when I am lonely, bored, restless
I like God to tell me about himself
I ask more questions
I like to show off what I’ve learned to God
I want God to approve of me
I want to share all the tiny details of my life with God
I must often be prodded, pushed, persuaded and sometimes even punished to behave properly
My love for God sometimes boils over and I must express it
I push back to learn where and how firm the boundaries are, what God’s motivation might be, and to see if we can trust God to be fair
I need God to understand me when I mess up and forgive me
What would change spiritually if you did behave like a small child with God? If you were not simply trusting, but free with God? If you could be silly and excited and real with God? How would our understanding of our faith walk change if we could see it in this frame work? That we are children, young and foolish, but learning. It takes time to grow up. But before we can grow up, Jesus says we must be like little children. I bet there’s a munchin in your life somewhere who can give you some pointers!
What are your suggestions for childish behavior we can emulate when relating to God?