Today I am thankful for the ways of a child, and for the
amazing thoughts, ideas, and motives that can come from us who are beyond
childhood, if we but return to the innocent faith, hope and dreams of a child.
Learn much from children, for they are
wise in their innocence
Learn much from children for they are
truthful in their ways
Learn much from children for they have no
prejudice until they learn it
Learn much from children for they love
from the heart, and not with motive
Learn much from children, for their faith
is reality
When we turn our thinking around, send it backward a ways in time, to
that of our beginnings, our childhood, we may remember what it is to be truly
wise in our reasoning and truthful in our ways; and to rid ourselves of
prejudice, and to love again from the heart and without selfish motive; and we
might just once again find our hearts filled with a hope that believes nothing
is impossible, and a faith that can actually move mountains.
I am determined to continue returning for this wisdom, this
truthfulness, this love, this hope, this faith; to truly understand what Jesus meant
when He said, "Unless you are converted and becom as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." ~
Matthew 18:1-5
Have the faith of a child and watch the miracle of heaven on earth happen -- is it really that simple?
Perhaps it is. And how will we know for sure? There is only one way to know for sure.
It must be possible for us to reach back and re-grab ahold of these childlike
traits, or He would not have pointed out to us the importance of them. When I think of how to go about doing so, I
can’t help but recall grandparents and children’s books:
·
I find it fascinating that as a person enters
into their later years of 80 and 90+, and as the short term memory begins to
falter, long forgotten memories of childhood begin to reemerge. It is as if proper
preparation for heaven requires a bit of childhood in order to enter.
I wonder, is it possible to
remember and capture the faith and wonder of childhood without also becoming senile
to the present? Yes, I am sure that it is, for I have had moments of childlike faith
and wonder while still remaining in the present... I want more of that!
I love the following short story
– read it again and again; it tells more than you may first realize:
“A grandmother was telling her little
granddaughter what her own childhood was like: "We used to skate outside
on a pond I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard.
We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods." The little
girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd
gotten to know you sooner!"”
~
Author Unknown
·
Some
adults have the wonderful ability to bring childhood back to us; and to speak
words of wisdom to us, as if from the mouth of a child. A.A. Milne (Author of Winnie the Pooh), and Dr.
Seuss are two such wonderful adults. There is magic and wisdom in their words:
5 Lessons of Childlike Wisdom from Dr. Seuss:
1. "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."
2. "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?"
3. "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."
4. "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
5. "Today I shall behave, as if this is the day I will be remembered."
5 Lessons of Childlike Wisdom from Pooh and His Friends:
1."The things that make me different are the things that make me.”
2. "Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them."
3. "Sometimes, the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”
4. "When you do the things that you can do, you will find a way.”
4. "Promise me you'll always remember:
You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem,
and smarter than you think"
Talk to you again soon. In the meantime: Think Child
Wisdom!
~
Connie
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” ~ Jesus; Mark 10:14
