Parenting by Design - August 12

Childlike, But Not Childish

Luke 18:17:  "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (NIV).

Maybe part of the reason God gives us children is so we can see Him more clearly.  The way our children relate to us gives us unique insight into the way we relate to our Father.  When our children give us a drawing, inexpert as it may be, we hang it on refrigerators and office walls.  It's the motivation we treasure, not the execution.  If our kids' gifts give us that much joy, imagine how God must feel when we offer gifts to Him with hearts motivated by love,

Likewise, when our children act selfishly, rebelliously or disobediently, we see a glimpse of the other side of our relationship with our Father.  The pain we feel when our children rebel cannot compare with the pain of our Father, for whom the stakes are much higher.

We can learn a lot about God from our relationship with our kids.  And, we should emulate their best characteristics when we relate to our heavenly Father.  A loving child exhibits humility, faith, dependence and a sense of wonder that makes life exciting.  A rebellious child is selfish, petty and disobedient.  Jesus instructs us to be childlike but not childish.

The loving child is a model for our relationship with God.