Like Little Children

Sometimes it's hard to put into words.

There are people.

Precious precious people in your life.

They love you consistently.

They think of you often.

They give and they give.

They pray for you everyday.

Sometimes the heart doesn't want

to go there.

Why we block our heart 

from realizing the fullness of this love

I cannot know.

I find that I do it because it is easier

to put up a wall

than to be vulnerable.

Vulnerability is more likely

to be thought of as weakness

but everyone seems to admire

the stoic one who can keep

every emotion in check.

I used to be a wonderful stoic.

My walls were beautiful.

I had the stones polished

and gleaming.

My inner courtyard was impenetrable. 

My heart was securely guarded.

If anyone dare get near to my heart,

I was able to send a message 

to shame them away.

It was loveless, graceless religion.

It was a kingdom of my own.

Then Jesus came near.

He kept coming near with His words.

Everyday He was there.

He drew my heart to Him.

He took it 

and the kingdom I had built crumbled.

My safe kingdom crumbled.

Sometimes I want to go back there.

It hurts to feel. 

It hurts to put your heart out there.

It's uncomfortable to be vulnerable 

and honest.

It takes time to share and care

and give and be there.

It looks silly.  It seems weak.

It seems immature.  Childish.

Trusting, loving, lowly, forgiving.

Those are the ways of children.

Jesus has no part in man's preoccupation with being the greatest.

When He was on earth,

He called a little child to Him

and had this little child stand 

in the middle of his disciples.

He told them solemnly,

"Unless you turn

and become like little children,

you can never get into

the kingdom of heaven at all.

So then, whoever becomes 

as lowly

as this little child 

is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Little children are quick to forgive,

quick to continue to love,

trusting and lowly.

"Be careful not to look with scorn

on a single one of these little children,

for I tell you that in heaven

their angels have uninterrupted access

to my Father in heaven."

Maybe we scorn each other

for being too forgiving, too trusting,

too lowly, too loving.

Maybe we don't realize the gift

that it is to become like little children.

Jesus does that in us.

He softens our hearts 

the longer we allow Him to carry it.

It'll hurt.

But at least it won't be locked up

behind some shiny wall

where no one can touch it -

even Jesus.

And without Jesus, we cannot be

like little children.

I thank Jesus for dear friends

who have shown me so much love.

I see how quick you are to forgive,

to love and to trust again.

That makes me want to be like Jesus.

His ways are not our ways.

His ways change the world.

And your being like Him

in the everyday of this life

is so sweet and tender

in a world so harsh and unkind.

Thank you!