My wife, Melinda and I, have 9 children and 13 grandchildren. We are constantly reminded by our now adult children what it was like growing up under our roof. As we hear those stories we are reminded there is no such thing as a perfect parent but find great personal blessing in seeing how the Lord has used even our imperfections to draw us even closer to our children. We truly have been blessed beyond our wildest dreams.
And don’t get me started on our grandchildren. Melinda and I absolutely adore and cherish each and every one of them. They are each like the most unique, exquisite treasure any person could ever hope to find. I am 64 years old now and I struggle with Parkinson’s, but I still get down on the floor and wrestle with them…still play hide and seek…still play Go Fish and Slap Jack…still write stories and songs for them…still read to them before bedtime and still sing them to sleep whenever they sleep over. I find myself feeling so young when I simply get down on their level and try to see life from their point of view. It is only after they have left our house that my body then shocks my mind back to reality as I get out the ice bag or heating pad…whichever is required at the time.
What this affords me is a vantage point we adults need to take to heart more often than not. When I am thinking and playing on their level, I suddenly see life as a child sees it. My heart is full of wonder where my imagination runs wild with freedom and creativity and complete and utter unfettered joy!
I understand the words of Paul written to the church of Corinth which says, in 1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.”
But then, at the same time, I am drawn to the wisdom of Psalm 131:2 which says, “I have certainly soothed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child [resting] against his mother, My soul within me is like a weaned child.”
We are to be responsible and live life with the wisdom of God as a necessary part of our maturity as adults, but I believe we are also meant to dare to dream and wonder and walk in awe - like a child seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time or like tasting ice cream or cotton candy for the very first time - as we relate to the awesome presence of God.
Let me ask you a few questions…and I want you to answer as if you were thinking the way a child thinks. What is the most magnificent thing you have ever witnessed in nature? How does that make you feel? If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be and why? What are three things that bring you joy in life? What are two things you want to do before you die? What is the greatest need or burden in your life? What would it look like for God to meet that need or carry that burden?
On January 1, 2005, I wrote a song called Like A Child and on that day I wrote the following about the song:
This is the very first song I received this year - 2005! A friend of mine had been taken into the OR for back surgery but had suffered a heart attack soon after surgery had begun. After he was on the road to recovery, I stood and talked with him and his wife and I heard a constant theme coming from my friend as he shared about his life from his hospital bed.
He had not had the best childhood and had a warped sense of God as his father. It was no wonder to me that he struggled with his identity - as we all do to some extent. When I got home from our visit, I began to sing over my friend. This song was the result. Because I knew the song was for more than just my friend…more than just for a man to sing.
The Lord gave me a verse for women to complete the song. I used it the very next service at my church and many stood for ministry as I shared the story and asked if anyone else shared similar needs to discover their true identity in Christ. On this recording you will hear my 13 year old daughter, Galen, singing the 'daughter' verse. That was 18 years ago now…I am so proud of her as I was when she first sang it with me! And yes, she is beautiful as the song says! Let’s do this. After reading this post, let’s put on the heart of a child and use the link provided below and listen as a child would listen to a parent sing them a lullaby.
A short time before his crucifixion, Jesus and his disciples were in a house in the region of Judea. Jesus was answering questions posed to him by both the Pharisees and his own disciples. In the course of the Q and A session, Mark 10:13-16 says, 13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He would touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw [this,] He was indignant and said to them, "Allow the children to come to Me; do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." 16 And He took them in His arms and [began] blessing them, laying His hands on them.
Could it be we don’t see the kingdom of God very easily in a chaotic and confused world around us because we see life without wonder and awe…you know…like a child?
Could it be we do not easily embrace the truth of who Father God says we are because we choose to believe the fetters of our past failures still define us rather than seeing with childlike faith that Jesus really has forgiven us and really has given us new identities in Christ?
Here’s my challenge to us all. From here on out, let’s live within the boundaries of adult wisdom and maturity but let us simultaneously allow our thoughts to be consumed with seeing life and seeing the massiveness of God’s love for us with the heart of a child.
Dennis Jernigan
To hear the song, Like A Child, listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast version of this blog. Just go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/like-a-child/
Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/11/10/19/37/person-1037607_1280.jpg