A Little Child Will Lead Them

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Mark 10:14 – Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (KJV)

Late one evening, my youngest son, Pete, age three, asked if he could have a bowl of Rice Krispies. I proceeded to the kitchen to prepare them, only to have him ask if he could "fix" them himself, just like his three older brothers had done earlier. After all, "I'm a big boy, too," he said. I set a small cream pitcher of milk on the table with a bowl and spoon and returned to the den to read. Just as I sat down, I heard the Snap! Crackle! Pop! of cereal hitting the kitchen floor. I stepped into the kitchen, and there stood Pete, the empty cereal box in hand. "Get the broom in the utility room, Pete," I directed.

"But, mommy, it's dark out there," he protested. "I'm scared!" To which I comfortingly replied, "You know that Jesus is everywhere. His hand is always there to protect you. Now get the broom!" At that, Pete cautiously opened the door to the utility room and shouted, "Hey, Jesus! If you're out there, hand me the broom." And He did! Miraculously, the broom, leaning against the door jam, fell into the kitchen as the door opened. That was in 1974.

Thirty years later, Pete's son, Drew, age four, was baptized at First Presbyterian Church in our hometown of York. The following Tuesday, Drew and I were in my office. He was playing with a Happy Meal toy which squirted water. Tiring of trekking back and forth to the restroom, I filled a Mr. Coffee pot with water so that my grandson could immerse his toy tank to fill it with water. Shortly, Drew approached my desk and said, "Nana, bend over." Expecting a kiss, I bowed my head toward him. Instead, Drew baptized me, proclaiming, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Family Ghost!"

Childlike faith… Oh, how each of us needs to recapture the childlike faith of our youth! As adults, we often become jaded, discontent, cynical, and doubting, leaving our souls unfilled like an empty jar. Losing the abiding faith in the mystery of our Creator, we push aside our childlike acceptance of our heavenly Father. Often we insist on tangible proof of what our senses cannot tell us. God is the architect, the scientist, the protector, the magician who caused a simple broom to fall into a room. We need to get back some of that Kid Stuff born 2000 years ago. He is the Trinity — the Father, the Son, and the Family Ghost.

Prayer – Heavenly Father, thank You for Your abiding presence. Help us to come to You like children with hearts and minds open to Your Spirit. Help us to cast away doubt and cynicism. Help us to embrace Your promise of everlasting life through our acceptance of Christ's grace. You gave Your only Son so that we may be saved. Keep us from sin, but when we stray, guide us once more into the fold. Amen.

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About the author:

Mary Elyn Carroll <maryelyncarroll2@hotmail.com>
York, South Carolina, USA

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