Childlike
When
Jesus saw this, he became angry and said, "Let the children come to me!
Don't try to stop them. People who are like these little children belong to the
kingdom of God
“Mom?” little Jackie asked. “Did Mrs. Burson eat somethin’
sour?” Jackie’s mother, Janet, smiled as he added, “’Cause she looks like she
ate one o my sour apple candies!”
While formulating the proper response for a six-year-old, Janet
watched in horror as little Jack skipped right over to Mrs. Burson, reached up
and took her hand, and said, “Did you eat some of your kid’s sour candy, Mrs.
Burson?”
Janet hurried to head off Mrs. Burson’s response. To her
surprise, Mrs. Burson smiled at young Jack. She looked him straight in the eye,
and asked, “Do I look that bad,
Jackie?!”
Before he could respond, Janet interrupted, “What Jackie
meant to say was…”
With an upheld hand, Mrs. Burson cut her off, “Oh, Janet.
I’m quite sure he said what he meant. But thank you for attempting to ease the
sting.”
Unconscious of his faux pas, Jackie innocently added,
“Sometimes them sour apple candies give me a bellyache. Do you have a
bellyache, Mrs. Burson?”
Totally at a loss for words, Janet waited for Mrs. Burson’s
response.
“You know something, Jackie. I believe I do,” she said with
a laugh. “Thank you for helping me ascertain the source of my displeasure!”
Jackie quizzically asked, “What’s an ascertain of
displeasure?”
Mrs. Burson and Janet both broke into laughter!
†
Only a child can get away with such boldness. Their innocence
disarms the normal offensive response we would certainly give to any adult who
dared question the noticeable displeasure of our stern countenance. Why is
that?
Mainly, it’s because we know children are not malicious. They
are unsullied by cynicism and cruel intent, we wouldn’t think of demeaning them
for reaching out to us.
Jesus points out that those who possess such childlike
innocence display an important characteristic of Kingdom citizenship….a very
important characteristic, that if lost, we should hope to re-discover
(ascertain).
Prayer
“Lord, my grown-up countenance
is lacking in innocence. Please restore the childlike wonder and faith of my
youth so I look like a citizen of Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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