Faith like a Child

God teaches us a lot about himself (and ourselves) through all parts of his creation, but especially children. I recently have been granted the delightful privilege of caring for a 7-month-old girl ten hours or so per week for the next several years. She is so good and happy, yet there is inevitable fussing and crying for food, sleep, attention, etc. I am already learning to distinguish her various noises and gestures so that I can better meet her needs. Sometimes all it takes is a smile or a pat to reassure her that I'm there. Sometimes nothing I try will console her, and I just have to wait until she sorts herself out. Sometimes I take away what she wants because it would hurt her (or she would demolish it); she’s a few months too young for outright rebellion, but even so she manages an unmistakable perplexed frown and reproachful glance with her knowing deep blue eyes.

We are like infants with God, trusting and doubting both at once, needing more than we know how to ask for, and having the occasional meltdown for reasons beyond mortal comprehension. And somehow God loves us in spite of our helplessness, confusion, and resistance. This little girl is precious to me even when she cries, spits up all over my T-shirt, or is determined to take the spoon out of my hand and smear pureed green beans all over her face and clothes instead of eating. I love her simply because she is. (Of course it doesn’t hurt anything that she usually lights up with glee when I come into the room or do any of dozens of silly things to entertain her. I pray she never grows out of her capacity for affirmation. So many of us do.)

How much more, then, does God our Creator love us? Why do we become old and so often forget the spontaneous joy and wonder of simply being alive? How can we nurture in ourselves and one another the ability to “receive the kingdom of God like a little child?” (Mark 10:13-16)