“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” Mark 10:15
“Children by nature are relationally oriented. When they are in trouble or pain, the first thing they do is reach out for a protective, comforting parent. They instinctively seek out relationship without even thinking about it. They don’t say to themselves, I’ll be strong and ride this one out, or I’ll just think positive thoughts. They ask for help from someone outside themselves.” (How People Grow, Cloud & Townsend, p. 271)
I used to have a hard time with this bible verse, because I wondered how I could reach out in a childlike faith when I never really experienced a childhood. When I read the thoughts in the above passage, I laughed in irony because those were my thoughts. I knew I had to do it myself because no one was going to do it for me. But I also thought about how as a mother, I have (hopefully) been the person my children could reach out to when they were hurting. I have learned that I need to re-capture my childhood so that I can go to God as a child that has been hurt. And you know what? Unlike my earthly parents, God has been there for me. He has wrapped his arms around me and held me through long nights filled with the pain of my past. He has brought healing to my brokenness. And as I continue down this journey of healing, he will continue to bring wholeness to the broken places. I have learned to trust. I have learned how to have relationship with my Father.
I hope to never forget the lessons I am learning about being a child of God.
“Children by nature are relationally oriented. When they are in trouble or pain, the first thing they do is reach out for a protective, comforting parent. They instinctively seek out relationship without even thinking about it. They don’t say to themselves, I’ll be strong and ride this one out, or I’ll just think positive thoughts. They ask for help from someone outside themselves.” (How People Grow, Cloud & Townsend, p. 271)
I used to have a hard time with this bible verse, because I wondered how I could reach out in a childlike faith when I never really experienced a childhood. When I read the thoughts in the above passage, I laughed in irony because those were my thoughts. I knew I had to do it myself because no one was going to do it for me. But I also thought about how as a mother, I have (hopefully) been the person my children could reach out to when they were hurting. I have learned that I need to re-capture my childhood so that I can go to God as a child that has been hurt. And you know what? Unlike my earthly parents, God has been there for me. He has wrapped his arms around me and held me through long nights filled with the pain of my past. He has brought healing to my brokenness. And as I continue down this journey of healing, he will continue to bring wholeness to the broken places. I have learned to trust. I have learned how to have relationship with my Father.
I hope to never forget the lessons I am learning about being a child of God.
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