-“I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school boy…”
–Scrooge, “A Christmas Carol”
-Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world…
–“Jesus loves the little children” by C. Herbert Woolston
-“…Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
–Luke 18:17
I’ve been doing the Book of Luke challenge, the one where each day in December you read the corresponding chapter. There are twenty-four chapters, so it conveniently concludes on Christmas Eve Day. It’s been an incredible journey; I have prayed for…and unearthed…so many fresh insights in this rereading! So today, when I reached Luke 18:17, this question popped into my head…
What does that mean exactly? What does that look like…to receive the kingdom of God like a little child?
I started brainstorming a list of character traits of littles: trust, humility, curiosity, creativity, a desire to learn, joy, love, openness, honesty, the ability to play, energy, innocence, hope, awe (even in the smallest things).
Think of a child at Christmas. At Christmas we commemorate the birth and hope of Jesus, the promise of salvation, the kingdom of God, the Light of the world!
Do we look at this miracle with wide-eyed amazement, like a child standing before sparkling snow, brightly-colored packages, twinkling lights, and trays of treats?
Are we expressing our gratitude with unbridled delight, crying out “Thank You!” as we leap into His arms and wrap Him in a baby bear hug?
Will we come before Him in our footy pajamas (it’s hard to be too full of yourself and buttoned-up when you’re wearing footy pajamas)?
Can we interrupt our “Martha tasks” to just scamper around in wonder, jump up and down at the AWESOMENESS of Jesus?!
One of my friends has a tradition that is super cool and perfectly childlike in its playfulness and creativity. On Christmas morning, before opening presents, the children search for the baby Jesus of the nativity to put in the manger, and then sing “Happy Birthday” to Him. Later, after dinner that evening, they bring a cake to the table and sing it again!
She texted me today…
“Isn’t it amazing that we’re all decorating and cooking and getting ready for a big birthday party…where we all get gifts…and ultimately, if we repent and believe, we get ‘the gift of All gifts.'”
And then there’s my friend “M.” She loves stars. She loves stars with a massive God-in-creation passion. She loves them so much that she has given me a whole different and bigger appreciation for them in the years that I’ve known her. Once, at a time I was REALLY needing some hope, she told me, “Even when it’s cloudy, the stars are still there. We just can’t see them.”
She’s going through a period of trials right now (and doesn’t it feel like when these things happen during the holidays, it’s even more egregious?). My heart is hurting for her and her family. Yet, despite everything going on, she messages this last night…
“I love you! Star story. The little saw the stars and I said, ‘You have to say hi to God when you see them’ and she wanted to go outside so she could wave.”
In our “adult life,” with all its worries and concerns, do we make time to stop and look up at the stars? Do we take a moment to wave at Him?
My most fervent prayer this Christmas season has been to keep the distractions where they belong, and my focus where it belongs.
Lord, help me to fix my gaze…with childlike faith…not on the presents under the tree…but on the Star on top.
On the only Christmas Gift that truly delivers on all its promises…
And delivers us.
Jesus.