In Matthew 18:4, Jesus tells his disciples that unless they change and become like little children, they won't enter the kingdom. In verse 4, "Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
"This child" Jesus refers to must have been something else! There are days I wonder what the Lord would say if he were in our living room, witnessing the bickering and physical warfare my children sometimes partake it for no other reason but to annoy the other. Did he happen to see the package of Oreos under my daughter's bed? Surely one who is the greatest in heaven isn't sneaking unhealthy snacks to her room in the middle of the night, right? My own mental image of "this child," is a darling little girl -- lovely and clean, probably with curly hair and dimples. She would have no dirt under her nails and a matching ensemble, clutching a fluffy teddy bear in her hands and answering Jesus' questions with a "yes, sir" and "no, sir."
A few years back, a missionary my husband and I supported and stayed with on mission trips to Mexico was in Illinois for a visit. We were so excited when we found out we could have her to our home for dinner. The menu was carefully prepared, and we were all in our Sunday best with high hopes that she'd share some of her amazing stories of miracles in the desolate villages in remote mountains of Mexico. We gently warned/threatened our children to be on their best behavior.
It was as if they could sense the anxiety and elevated expectations for the evening, and when we all sat to eat, they really let loose! They were both preschool age, and potty talk was quite the rage. And Garnet, with three children and grandmother of her own and a mother/grandmother figure to dozens, didn't bat an eye. She dismissed their behavior as nothing more than normal childhood dinner musings.
We were mortified! Luckily we let her wisdom be our guide and let it go.
Because as I reflect on this passage and story today, it occurs to me that Jesus doesn't say who "acts like a child." He says whoever "humbles" himself like a child. You see, children in all their innocence don't know better. They simply are who they are with no worries and most importantly, no pride. They don't compare or compete when they are young; there is no popularity contest. That simplicity of not having the greater context of societal rules or the hurdle of living up to others' expectations is what makes children humble. They didn't put Garnet, not anyone else for that matter, on a pedestal. To them, everyone is equal and acting what's in your heart or on your mind was all they knew.
Humility. Such a difficult concept for grownups and yet Jesus doesn't just suggest it; he demands it. If we want the gift of eternal life, we must strip ourselves of arrogance and pride and become like the "least of these." I don't mean children. But to be truly humble, we must serve those considered the most lowly. After all, that's how our heavenly father came to this earth. Why should we expect anything less of ourselves in our daily walk?
