Becoming As A Little Child

Becoming As A Little Child

In many places throughout the scriptures the Lord not only invites, but commands that we must “Become as a little child” to inherit his kingdom. I often ponder and wonder about this in my own life and spiritual standing, and this past Sunday at church He gave me a few answers in the form of the little children surrounding me during sacrament meeting.

Around me sat my three little grandchildren. Each of them was unique in their own beautiful way and full of wonder about what was going on around them. Yet at the same time they were desirous to be noticed by their parents or grandparents, to be held, to be cherished, and to be nurtured and fed. My three-year-old grandson was sharing fruit snacks with his one-year-old sister and giving her kisses on the face. My other 4 month old grandson gazed into his mother’s and father’s faces with smiles and coos and little baby sounds of delight. In front of me in the arms of her mother was another small child no more than a year old. As she gazed over her mother's shoulder at me her face brightened into a beautiful smile and her eyes were bright with light. I couldn't help but smile back at her and my grandchildren around me! They simply filled the area with joy and happiness.

As I witnessed these things going on around me, I couldn't help but feel I was learning some very important lessons. While recognizing their complete dependence upon their parents for support, protection and sustenance, these children were still sharing Joy, smiles, and Light with all of those around them. They were not distracted by so many of the “adult cares” of life such we are encumbered with such as work, finances or worries and concerns about their future. They were simply consumed in the moment and aware of those around them. They were sharing love, smiles, and bringing happiness to that portion of the world in which they were existing at that moment. Without Judgement they were seeing the good in people around them and let others know of that goodness through their smiles, through sharing and through modes of affection.

Far too often in life I think we get too concerned with other cares of the world around us, things such as Financial concerns, worries about employment or education, wondering about what the future will really hold, or simply worrying about our own imperfections. And while we need to be mindful of these things and be productive citizens in society, etc., I wonder if perhaps we are too distracted by them. The Lord used the example of the Lilies in the field to help us learn to trust in Him more fully and be less concerned over the “temporary” temporal things.

So perhaps, at least in some portion, what “becoming as a little child” means is to simply BE
PRESENT in the moment, BE AWARE of those around us, and BE WILLING TO SHARE a portion of God's light through our acts of kindness, sharing, and even spreading a smile to others as a reflection of God’s goodness and mercy.

The perfect child of course was Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! He perfectly showed us how to be submissive to His Father's will. He showed us how to be present in each moment and be aware of those around us and how to love and lift them through acts of kindness and compassion.

So as I think about these things and I ponder about what it means to become spiritually mature, perhaps it is nothing more than becoming as a little child as these tender Souls taught me this past Sunday. I don't think I even remember anything which the speakers said during the meeting, but I am grateful to the Lord and these small children who taught me perhaps the greatest lesson I could have learned that day.