The idea for this blog has been a long time coming. It's a concept I have been thinking about a lot lately, with all the change and growing up that I have found myself in the middle of. I am connected to the internet currently (which trust me, on this campus the last couple weeks is basically a miracle); so I am going to share it with you. Thanks for taking the time to read it!
So the actual decision to blog about never growing up came to me this weekend while at WalMart. Some of the guys from my floor (here in O'bannon we call it a "cluster") made a WalMart run Saturday, it's a source of entertainment for us college kids, it seems no one passes up the chance to go to WalMart. Well, when we got there I may have been slightly hyper, so I got into a buggy and had a friend push me around the store. It was a sight..let me just tell you those buggies may look big, but they are a tight fit for legs like mine. Well after the occasional almost flipping, almost hitting other shopping carts and quick jerks, I realized how much faith it takes to ride in one of those contraptions. I began to pray about this and press into what the Lord wanted to show me. I had yielded my safety to Fernando, if he had wanted to flip me, or send me speeding through the store out of control, he absolutely could have, and I couldn't have stopped him. Thank the Lord I have good friends who don't do things like that and I escaped unhurt!
What does that story have to do with anything? Well, kids are absolutely trusting. They have to be. They have to look to adults for food and provision. It may seem like they have an easy life, but really, think about how little they can do without help. Think about how hard it would be for us, who are "grown up" to be so dependent on someone else.
Yet, from an early age, kids can be found wanting nothing more than to grow up. They spend shopping sprees begging to be let out of the buggy. They can't wait to go to school. They look forward to being a teenager, driving, going to college. The idea of independence is exciting and something they wish their lives away for. That's so sad. Once you get grown up and realize all the responsibility that comes with it, you long for the days of carefree childhood again. Even things like naptime. I hated naps as a kid. When they were mandatory I begged and pleaded to get out of them (to no avail I might add). Now, I wish someone would make me go take a nap. I love getting a few minutes to lay down and nap (which hasn't happened as often as I'd like here recently).
Odds are, if you are reading this, you are no longer a child. What does this have to do with you? Matthew 18:3, "Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (NKJ). That's right, in our spiritual walk we are supposed to be like children. What does that mean? Totally yielded. Looking to Jesus for everything. Kids are not concerned with the weighty matters of theology--they love Jesus and they believe what they are told about Him. Why do we question His power, His love, even His existence? Do we think we are too good for Him, or too gorwn up for the idea of Christianity? That may be the problem, we have lost something called childlike faith along the way. Is learning good? Yes. Is it to replace faith and joy and trust and the excitment that kids have toward Jesus? Absolutely not.
I am learning that I do not have things figured out. The good news is: that's ok! We do not have to. Kids have dreams about what they will do in the future, but they do not know. Their dreams are huge, they believe they can do anything, they may not have the 10 step plan to achieve their goal, but they have high goals! Live for today. Be like a child who stands on their dad's feet, he walks, and the kid goes whereever the dad goes. The kids aren't planning or dictating where the trip takes them, they are just along for the ride. They are content and enjoying themselves just being in their father's presence. Dads also enjoy this time, just as God enjoys us being with Him. Don't get too busy with your grown up schedule to just have fun with Jesus! Don't get too caught up in the stresses of making your dreams come into being. Just follow Jesus, step on His feet, and enjoy the ride!
Today, don't think you are oh so mature in Jesus. Just have fun with Him! Too often as we grow up we lose that child like passion. Well, His words are true, if they weren't He would not have said them.
Let's become like kids again! Let's take Him at His word; let's never grow up from that faith.
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