An Urgent Call to the Holiness of Childlikeness

May 11, 2016 by Kirstin Johnson

Continued from Page 1

If a proclamation by Christ is of any merit to us, then it is clearly crucial that we become attentive to what is childlike in children, and that we steward and honor and protect that, even as our children mature. This is done by participating in it ourselves: practicing more frequent delight in the simple wonders of the world; caring more about who people are than what they are; playing games, exploring the outdoors, enthusiastically sharing new discoveries.

To participate in such childlikeness will not only honor and affirm that endangered childlikeness in our children, but will bring considerable health to our own lives (as a quick Google search of the abundant recent research on such practices will corroborate). It will enrich our relationships with the children we know: our own, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, children of friends, etc. Not least, such participation will grant health to their maturation process as they learn from the modeling of adults how to discern the difference between being childlike and childish — childishness being what the Apostle Paul calls us away from; childlikeness what the Christ calls us into … and what he commands us to protect.

In case you are amongst those who need reminding, today, go feel the softness of a pussy willow, or splash even once in a puddle, or stand and stare up up up into the greening leaves of a tree. Spot a bird, watch a squirrel, make someone else come look at a butterfly.

And see tonight's sunset. For this is the pleasure of Providence: these portals, even if forgotten, are still there. It's never too late to learn to be childlike again, or to help call others in. (For Christians, it's an imperative.) Give permission; be a model; help fortify against the siren calls of the Danger Zone.

Go: pay attention to children to remember what it is to be childlike; then, participate so that none of you forget.

Author's Note: Listen to MacDonald's chapter "The Child in the Midst" here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hVJsuEibvo.

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5/11/2016 4:00:00 AM

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