This year is my first time working in a Christian environment and I’m absolutely loving it, even though it’s only been a few weeks. I’m loving starting each day with devotions with the team, having discussions as a team and even just simply knowing that we all have the same values. What I’m surprisingly loving the most though is getting to witness the children’s faith and relationship with God. It can actually be quite humbling to hear them talk about their love for Him and how simple it is in their minds. The way they so unashamedly talk about Him and incorporate Him into everything they do. It’s just all so simple in their minds. Specifically, I have one boy in my class who is always telling me amazing stories of times he prayed to God and had an answer or a time when his dad taught him about faith and he found the thing he’d lost. Even just simply telling me he fell over but it’s okay because Jesus healed him. No question in his mind, just simple facts.
I think it can be so easy to overcomplicate things with God. We can easily overanalyse and overthink or wait till we see a “sign” or “confirmation”. Witnessing the children’s faith is reminding me about what I want my faith to look like. I’ve been reflecting on when was the last time I simply believed God with no overthinking or analysing. We are His children created in His image and I believe He wants us to come to Him like children. In Matthew 18:3 Jesus says “Truly I tell you, unless you become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven.” We need to come to Him as we are and just simply believe.
Some of you may have kids so I’m sure you have a better understanding than I do but I know that when children are hurt, lost or looking for comfort they turn to their parents. Working in early childhood I always loved seeing the joy on some children’s faces and the way they ran to their parents, having a big reunion after only 6 or 7 hours apart. Children rely on their parents for everything and I know even as an adult, I still rely on my parents for help and comfort sometimes, maybe more than I should. We need to make sure we’re the same in our relationship with God. Running back to Him in our times of need and hurt, jumping back into His arms with that childlike joy.
So I pray that as your week goes on you would all reflect on your relationship with God and be inspired by the children around you. Would we no longer overcomplicate things but run towards God with a simple love, being dependent, vulnerable and trusting of Him, just as children are with their parents.
Grace Attwood