This weekend I went to church with my daughter Lumina, and despite her verbal limitations she clearly expressed the desire to attend Sunday school with the other three-year old’s.
She was fussing loudly, and I said, "it's ok baby, daddy will hold you and we can sing and dance together at daddy church", and she shook her head to say "no". So, then my wife and I laughed, and we asked her, do you want to go to kid’s church today? And she started cooing, and it was clear she was trying to convince me. :)
So, I ended up taking baby-bear to Sunday school and I was astonished by the power of joy in children, particularly my kids, Hazel & Lumina.
Be like children...
The entire experience reminded me Jesus teachings, that in children we see something admirable, desirable, and righteous: the proper humble gratitude and joy for the present moment.
Matthew 18:2-4 English Standard Version (ESV)
2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, '"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
How do kids differ?
I think this points to the fact that kids have a honesty in their joy, that is not impeded by pride and worry of reputation, unlike adults. You see, we adults, we worry that we might "look silly", or "sound stupid", so we refrain from sharing, or participating, but not kids. They are humble enough to know that enjoying the beauty in a moment requires honest, humble, appreciation for that moment without worry of reputation or shame. They hear music, they just dance. They see a new kid, they go just play side by side with them, without saying a word. We on the other hand, fear rejection, we expect embarrassment, and so we are obsessed with self-reflection, always distracted out of the moment, by worry.
We fixate and worry about how we might be perceived, as we respond to the beauty we are overlooking. Not kids, they are in it, and it is beautiful.
Conclusion:
I think this is what Jesus meant, kids don't care how well they can sing or dance, if they hear music that brings them joy, they gratefully celebrate that moment. They don’t care how well they dance, nor about their tone or pitch... they just praise. They honestly and humbly express the right attitude: gratitude for the beauty of the moment.
And isn't that what it means to praise God? That we would honestly, humbly, express gratitude for the beauty of each moment acknowledging in our response, if not with our words, that each moment is a gift from God.
Kids let their hearts pour out, while we resist
So the next time you're overwhelmed by beauty, sing... dance & celebrate!
Fight the urge to step outside yourself, and ask stupid questions, like "how will I be percieved if...?" Because it is NOT how well you sing that makes singing worth while, nor your coordination that makes dancing beautiful. Rather it's the joy of your heart overflowing in the moment.
Kids may not be the smartest, or strongest, or most capable, but they are much more likely to be honest, humble and grateful, and God tells us that in them we have an example to follow. Praise God.
Cause it ain't how well you do it, but the joy and gratitude you have in the moment.
My Prayer:
Lord help us vulnerably, humbly, and honesty, walk in gratitude and joy, appropriate for the truth that each moment we have, is an undeserved gift from you God. In Jesus name, amen.
