What is it about children that Jesus held so precious and so dear to his heart? Being around children has challenged me, grown me, stretched me, exhausted me and has also afforded me the privilege to see some completely beautiful and heartfelt moments, as well as some cringe-worthy and hilariously funny moments said or done mainly by pre-schoolers. Most of which are never to be repeated again for fear of causing death by embarrassment!
In the past 12 years of being around them, one of the things I am most intrigued by has been their ability to see things with a sense of awe and wonder. The sheer excitement or curiosity when shown something new! The way a child’s eyes open wide and light up when they see something as simple as a pretty flower or a strange looking bug. That perspective, oozing with delight and fascination, always amazes me.
Would it be wrong to say that as we grow up, and begin “adulting” we can stop seeing beauty in the simple things? The simple yet extraordinary things that are in front of us every day. When our minds become more concerned with facebook and how many likes I got on my last instagram post or when I become clouded with responsibilities, goals, routines and all the grown up things that life has to offer. I, for one, struggle to see the spectacular, even if it is standing right in front of me.
The fascination and awe of children, or rather their fascination and awe of life in general is what I find most beautiful and precious about them. It so readily reveals their beauty and purity of heart. They see with new eyes… perhaps that was one of the things Jesus loved most about them. Their ability to trust and just see things in the way that they were meant to be seen. Without all the twisted perspectives that can come with growing up. The seemingly small and insignificant things that we see every day and take for granted are often seen as treasure and completely magical to a child.
May we never lose our wander….
Luke 5:26: “Everyone was gripped with great wander and awe and they praised God, exclaiming” we have seen remarkable things today”
Matthew 18:3: “And he said truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Wonderment, definition: “A cause or occasion for wonder, astonishment, surprise, curiosity about something.”
By Jade Pilkington