When Children are the Best Teachers
Life can throw some gnarly things at us, but it never ceases to amaze me how resilient children are and how much I learn from them. It seems like it's through children that God gives us beautiful glimpses into His character and the life of abundance and freedom that He offers to us.
I was reading in Matthew recently, and Jesus answers a very grown-up question from the disciples by pointing to the example of a little child:
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
Matthew 18:1-5
I’ve been thinking about this in the context of the helloHOPE community, and I believe that — in addition to the importance of humility — Jesus is also highlighting the way that children relate to and trust in him. There’s something special about the way that God relates to children:
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 19:14
I have been blessed so much by the stories we’ve had the honor of telling on the helloHOPE blog, not just because of the families’ perspectives on hope, but also because of the examples that the children facing adversity give us. There are some beautiful and profound truths that we can take away from each one of these stories:
Audra’s story with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)
Audra’s story is a reminder for me of the power of the Lord’s presence with us and the reminder that a diagnosis isn’t a sentence on how life will be. Her example is an encouragement that holding onto faith, love, and hope is worth the fight.
Felicity’s story with total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR)
Felicity’s life has brought incredible joy to each person she meets — even from the day she was born. Her story has taught me more about the power of joy and redemption, and God has confirmed through her example His desire to give full, abundant life to each and every one of His children.
Charlie’s story with hyper-IgM syndrome
Charlie is a hero of hope and bravery. His one-in-a-million story is marked with the resiliency of a little boy that is determined to laugh and play regardless of the circumstances that are thrown his way. I’m praying for the Lord to give us a bravery and confidence that transcends our day-to-day environment and challenges.
Abby’s story with synovial cell sarcoma
Abby’s life points to the incredible and ultimate hope that we experience in a rich, thriving relationship to God. Her unwavering joy and trust in Jesus’s faithfulness through the pain is an inspiration to live by faith and a call to seek a deeper relationship with Him.
Claire’s story with down syndrome and leukemia
Claire is a beautiful example of the power of love and community and the fact that God’s purposes are greater than our own plans. One of the most encouraging pieces of her story is the freedom with which she accepts and enjoys the love that is extended to her — if we could only learn to accept God’s love so freely!
Teagan’s story with Autism
Teagan’s story is marked by grace and the limitless potential that we have in Jesus. Her gentleness and interest in others is a reminder that we are here to love, serve, and depend on each other. More than our achievements or what we do, my hope is that our lives will be marked by the relationships we’ve built and grown.
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As we continue to tell the stories of families that have hope for a bright and purpose-filled future, let’s remember that each child has a message for us — a message about God wanting to connect with each of our hearts to bring life and hope.
- Lamentations 3:25; Matthew 18:1-5; Matthew 19:14; John 10:10 -