The eyes of a child...

In Orthodoxy, G.K. Chesterton wrote: "A child kicks its legs rythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, 'Do it again'; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough...It is possible that God says every morning, 'Do it again,' to the sun; and every evening 'Do it again,' to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike: it may be that God makes every daisy seperately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we."

Yesterday, I helped the Hajjami's move some of their stuff to Lebanon before their trip to Morocco. While they were finishing packing, I spent some time with their 3 month old boy, Samuel. It was so much fun to sit there and try to figure out what messages his little noises and his wide, joyful eyes were trying to convey. As I watched him kicking and squirming and staring up at me, I was reminded of this quote.

He was just laying on the bed, staring at the blank white ceiling, but his face, his eyes, his arms and legs, they all spoke of pure joy. Looking into his eyes, they were so happy, so hopeful. His world was good - no, it was great. And it made me think, when was the last time that I had that attitude. I can't remember. I have been happy, I have been excited, but I don't know when the last time that I felt pure, unabashed, bold joy like I saw in this babies eyes yesterday.

In Matthew 19:14, Jesus tells the disciples, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

In Matthew 18:3, Jesus told them, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like the children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

As we get older, we get tired of monotony. I think of my black lab, (not the most recent one, for reasons that I won't go into) and his love of retrieving. He loved to play fetch, and no matter how long I stood out in the yard and threw the ball, he would go get it, bring it back, and be ready for more. He could do it over and over again for hours. We always quit, not because he was tired, but because I was. It got boring - not for him but for me.

I want to be like that baby boy, never growing tired of faithfully trusting and following God. Always hoping and rejoicing in my faith. I want to be like that black lab, always coming back to God wanting more. Never growing tired of searching out his truth.

We grow old too fast. May our faith be one area that we can continue to be like children...or dogs :-)