CHILDLIKE
This past spring and summer, I picked up a babysitting job for a couple of families. I take on responsibilities such as putting the kids to bed, making dinner, entertaining them, etc.
One day before bedtime, two kids and I watched Moana. I wasn't complaining since Disney movies are my guilty pleasure. We skipped to the end, where Moana restores the heart of TeFiti and parts ways with Maui. This scene was so wholesome. I look over at the young kids I was babysitting as they begin to break down in happy tears. While wiping away his tears, the little boy kept saying, "It's just so happy." – This moment I got to experience almost brought me to tears. Witnessing children naturally fall to tears of joy took me aback.
Many of us don't find ourselves brought to happy tears often. We find ourselves brought to very real tears. We are brought to pain and sadness. – Children experience life with such vibrancy. They don't worry about their tomorrows. Their biggest worry might be if mom remembered to pack their lunch or who they will play with at recess. Children live life with fresh bones. They run into situations without looking back. Their hearts are so full. Children love so deeply, forgive quickly, and hug so tight.
When you're all grown up, your bones may not be dancing with bliss. You might look back while running into certain situations. You may not have anyone to play with at recess. And you certainly are crying more sad tears than happy tears. That's not because you aren't happy, but when you're all grown up, life gets hard, and we become a little more human. These tears begin to weigh so heavily on us. It becomes far and few to find ourselves falling into tears of joy.
But what if we begin to have a childlike outlook on life? What if we fall so quickly into tears of joy because were just so happy. This is our job as children of God. To run without looking back into the Lord's arms. To play and include everyone at recess. To know who holds our tomorrows. To love so deeply and forgive so easily, just like Jesus.
Childlike faith won't keep us from very real and difficult circumstances. What it will do is allow us to have joy in the storms. To feel so deeply and trust the one who protects us. May we watch more movies that bring us to happy tears and pray for fresh breaths of air. May we know who honors each and every tear.
