Children Can Teach Us...
Known for their innocence, famous for their learning skills, loved for their humility and cared for their dependence, children are not only a bundle of joy, but also they teach us several good things in life.
Total Dependence
Children teach us how not to be independent, not to live life selfishly a self-centered life, not to think too much of ourselves, not to lean on our own understanding, but to depend upon God and live constantly connecting with Him for every one of our needs. After a certain age, we tend to think that we know everything and we learn to live with our mistakes, owing them to our (in)capabilities and (lack of) knowledge. We limit ourselves to what we can possess and whatever we can have with our limited resources, stopping to depend upon the One who can give us beyond what we ask or even can think. We limit God from blessing us by depending on our own limited wisdom and refusing to yield to the will of God. We fail to understand that just like a father cares for his children with love, we have a Heavenly Father who cares for us, if only we can yield to Him. We never even acknowledge Him for the good things we have, like a thankless child (we teach children to thank us, but we utterly fail to be grateful to God). We stumble and fall often, not holding the caring hands of the Father. Let us learn from children to hold on to the Father's hand and walk hand in hand with Him.
True Humility
A child knows not to boast, if only you never spoke out your heart to the child, because our hearts are full of pride and through our expressions, we teach the child to give up the wonderful character of being humble as they grow. Humility has its way everywhere, even before God, for God gives grace to the humble, but He hates the arrogant and proud. A humble person receives love from all sides, and many gifts too. The Father's love would be seen in a humble person. Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who reigns over all universe came down to earth and was born in the form of man, to teach us humility. He humbled Himself even till He was nailed to the cross and people mocked at him, saying, "If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." He remained humble for His mission to be accomplished. Today, we have much more to learn from such truly humble ones who lived on this earth than from those arrogant rulers who fought their way to their own glory. The world has more respect in the depths of their heart towards Jesus Christ and His true followers than towards the billionaires, the royals and the haughty achievers. Humility has its way anywhere.
Ability to Learn
A child is teachable - are we grown-ups anywhere a match to them? We have pride and complexes which make us dull in our heart. There is a saying, "What a man has learnt is just a handfull; What he is yet to learn is a worldfull." We close our hands and our minds and are satisfied with what we have learnt though there is a world of knowledge that we would not be able to fathom though we keep learning all through our lives. If only we acknowledge our need to learn, our limited knowledge and the vastness of the wisdom of God, we would learn from Him. All our lives, we would be learning and increasing in divine knowledge.
Simple Innocence
A child is innocent - without sin. The Lord Jesus Christ set a child in the midst of His disciples and said, “Let the little children come to me, for of such is the kingdom of God.” He further said, “If anyone does not accept the kingdom of God like a little child, He shall never enter into it.” Haughty people who do not acknowledge the saving power of Christ would lose Heaven and be lost in hell for eternity. Man is born in sin and grows up in sin. A sinner cannot enter the gates of Heaven. But a man becomes a new creation when he accepts the salvation that the Lord Jesus Christ offers. He is born a new spiritual baby. Only if you can learn that innocence and simplicity from a child can you become a citizen of the eternal kingdom.
When a child is born into a family, everyone rejoices. So also, if you would accept the salvation that the Lord Jesus Christ offers you, you would be born into the family of God and thus, there will be great rejoicing in Heaven. Will you give God that joy, dear friend?
