With Faith Like A Child

The beauty of a child.

When I was a young teen, early twenties dude I wanted nothing to do with kids. My brothers have lots of kids, and after several simultaneous visits I swore I would never have them. Now I have four. Nothing breaks my heart more than to see a child in pain, either by sickness or by violence. Nothing makes my heart more glad than to hear a child laugh. But it's not about me. In Matthew 19:14 Jesus says, "let the children come to me...unhindered...for theirs is the kingdom".

I read story after story, day after day, of violence and injustice being committed against children. Just last week, over 170 people were arrested in a child pornography sting. I think about the parents of these children; I think about the futures of these children and my heart breaks. The blatant removal of innocence by perverts. The total disregard for human life is enough for me to wish death. But it's not my place. Vengence is God's.

I love the conversations my 2, 4, and 6 year old boys have together. They mostly involve Transformers, Speed Racer and the Wiggles, but their philosophies are timeless. Only in their world can GI JOE, OPTIMUS PRIME and MURRY (THE RED WIGGLE) occupy the same space in time. Three "real" people...a Freedom Fighter, an alien robot and an Australian guitarist with an uncomfortable affinity for all things RED...who would never be caught in the same room under any circumstance suddenly have complete and total relevance in the imagination of my 4 year old. I have a friend who has a son around 6. He knows more about NASA, spaceships and space travel than 99% of all adults I've ever spoken to. To spend five minutes with this boy is to realize that he doesn't just WANT to be an astronaut...he already IS.

His future, in his limited mind, is already planned out. His hopes and dreams are alive and attainable. My daughter, who is not a baby anymore, wants nothing more than to open orphanages in Africa. The way she cares for her little brothers shows that she is more than capable. The only thing holding her back is a passport. The desire is there, the ability is there, the anointing is there. So will Jamie ever be an astronaut? Will Teanna ever open an orphanage? Will Elijah ever get to meet Optimus Prime? God only knows. The hope comes in the fact that 2 out of three of these desires are possible. That possiblility brings a realism to them that should not be squelched.

...and I read of 170 perverts...I read of the little Anthony girl in Florida...the brother and sister in Idaho...children across America, and the world whose dreams are dashed by selfish perverts. I wonder if Hell has a special place for those who are unrepentant about their crimes committed against children. Jesus describes that our faith is to be childlike.

As I was laying in bed last night I thought of the short time God gives us to prepare children. Typically about 18 years out of possibly 65-70 years on earth. I think of the years that have already passed with my own children and wonder if I have nurtured them the way God wants me to. Probably not. I'm trying. I'm trying to say "yes" to time spent with them. My 6 year old often comes up to me and says, "Hey dad, let's go to the couch and talk about Transformers" or "Hey dad, let's go talk about spelling some words." Sometimes I say no, like I'm too busy. Then I think about how stupid I am for being selfish. Yesterday I cooked soup with my sons. They all took turns stirring it. Even the 2 year old. I probably overcooked the soup. In fact, they said so. But they ate it anyway because they had a hand in cooking it. And they liked it. But I was so enthralled at seeing the joy they had in stirring it, I was left with no other choice than to allow the soup to burn. It was, after all, for the greater good.

I know I'm rambling, but my point is this: I like kids. I love children. I think God uses our children to teach us about ourselves and our relationship with Him (see my very first post on more about this topic.) It's not that I just like my own kids either. My heart breaks when I hear about sickness of any child, or any child going through pain or being treated badly. Children should not have any knowledge of cancer. Children should not have any knowledge of sex. Children should not have any knowledge of violence by people that are supposed to love each other. Children should not have to see daddy treat mommy bad. I think of these things and I want to become Superman, and fly all around the world putting and end to these injustices. I can't, though. I can pray. And I will. And I will do my part to stop these things from happening in my small world. I will try to make a difference in the things that are tangible to me...to the things I can effect.

You can learn a lot from a child.

UPDATE: 16 DEC, 2008
I find it quite interesting that I posted this blog yesterday. Today it was released that the case has officially been closed in the abduction and murder of Adam Walsh, the son of John Walsh, host of America's Most Wanted. John's tireless efforts to find his son's killer and undying love for his son have become recognized worldwide and were a catalyst in the formation for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Read a report here.