[Mickey]

Are you listening?

I know I have said this before but I’ll say it again.
Small kids sometimes remind me of funny little drunk people! They are so full of wonder and somehow wise without knowing it. They are annoying, lovable, smelly, sticky and entertaining. You can’t leave them alone or count on them, and yet every once in a while they say or do something that reminds you to be alive or to smile, love, be more compassionate, or to listen.
This past Mother’s Day I was in Wal-Mart. I was dazed by the sound of rattling carts, overhead speakers, crying babies, and the voices in my head asking me which detergent to buy.
Through it all I heard the southern drawl of a young boy who sounded like he was right out of the movie To Kill A Mockingbird telling his momma, “ Momma, I think I’m special. I tell all the kids at school the answers to stuff and I’m right. Do you think I’m psychic momma? Do you momma?”

As he walked on with his mom ignoring him, I stopped dead in my tracks. It brought me back to when I was a boy. When life was still full of SO MUCH possibility! When we dreamt without prejudice, before our loved ones died or walked out on us or maybe just stopped listening altogether.

I don’t know why but I heard myself in that little boy. Asking God and my friends and even anyone who might be reading this message, do you hear me? Am I special? Do you relate?

As I have grown older I have realized that I am growing more child like and that my hope really is in Jesus. He is the only one who can help me now. I have exhausted all other avenues. I get frustrated by a world where I am surrounded by big people who have all the power but none of the tenderness or imagination this world needs to prosper. A world where sometimes transparent little people who say what they are thinking, whether expressing fear, love or anger are made to feel inferior for their gift of wonder and freedom. We make sure of that. And it makes it uncomfortable, NO almost unbearable at times to wear this mask called “adult”.

Just for the record young man wherever you are, I don’t believe in psychics but YES you are special!


Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

And he said: " I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

[EarthenVessel]

I understand entirely what you're saying. I work at a sno cone hut and I am absolutely elated when I get to chat with the really young kids.

Children are such a blessing! It's as if God instituted the cycle of maturation solely to humble us in yet another way! You said it. As we mature in Christ we must shed and strip away the things we have added to ourselves along the way before we were walking with Him. He teaches us to return to our beginning and embrace life.

I just wanted to add that in addition to a child's transparency, I am touched by a child's trust. When does a child second-guess his father's reassurance? When does he ask "I dunno Dad, the water looks deep...how sure are you?"

This is the lesson I have always gathered from the passages about returning to childlikeness. And thank you so much for sharing this. It was a reminder to me; I had mostly forgotten about trying to simply trust Him. I have a tendency to want to take control.

Grace and Peace to you from God the Father, Creator and Provider of all the Universe