Become like Children Again

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven…” (Matthew 18:3NIV)
“There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.” (Walt Streightiff)

Before I put these thoughts into words, I first imagining and thinking during my quiet time about many scenes and conversations that I experienced with children. I remember Jesus’ words about 2,000 years ago, “…unless you change and become like children…” He wants us to change. He taught us to become like children. What about the children that for us, adults, need to consider or to learn from?

Picture from http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?
file=/2009/3/5/lifefocus/3290353&sec=lifefocus

I’d learned (rather, re-learned) there are 5 ways to become more like a child no matter how old you get:

1.     Curiosity

Jim Rohn writes, “Be curious. Childish curiosity. Learn to be curious like a child. What will kids do if they want to know something bad enough? You’re right. They will bug you. Kids can ask a million questions. You think they’re through. They’ve got another million. They will keep plaguing you. They can drive you right to the brink.” Curiosity helps you to reach higher, learn more and keep you grow. Adults, be more curiosity about the things of God!

2.     Simple

In nature, they are very simple. They don’t care much about what they eat and wear. Their mind is simple. They pray simple and direct prayers. In fact, without pampering, flattering and over spoiling – children are content with whatever they have. They are simple! Hey you adults; uncluttered your life, live simple and simply live. [P.s: Simple here is not referring to being ignorance as the Book of Proverbs warned us not to be.]

3.     Excitement

They excited about almost everything. They are so excited that they don’t need to drink coffee to stay awake at night and can’t wait to get up in the morning. And what we do as an adult? We so excited to lay our head on the pillow, get lazy! Can’t seem to wake up in the morning, unproductive! Now, tell me, can someone who is lazy and unproductive enter the kingdom of heaven? No! Be excited about God as a child!

4.     Trust

This is not a blindly trust somebody or someone though it’s true that children sometime tend to be in that manner. In a positive light, to be like children is to learn to trust like them. They trust that their parent would provide their needs. They ‘sleep like a baby’, worry free. This kind of virtue, we can apply also in our trust in God’s provision for our daily needs.

5.     Faith

Children are filled with faith while adults are filled with doubt. They believe all things are possible while adults often too skeptical. They believe even the unseen, the not yet happen while adults have a tendency to be cynical. My little cute cousin come to distracted me one evening while I’m reading and randomly said, ‘I believe that Jesus is here’. That’s faith! Oh, how I want to be like a little children again. Incredible!

Curiosity, simple, excitement, trust and faith are the royal virtues that I’ve learned from children. It is expensive lessons. Valuable food of thoughts. No wonder, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven…”

THINK BIG.START SMALL.GO DEEP.