The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven

by Alexandria Freeman

What an underrated gift it is to have a child in your life. Whether you have your own or someone else's around, I would implore you to pay very close attention. It’s so easy to dismiss children because we’ve already mastered childhood, or so we think, but as Dr. Suess says, “a person is a person no matter how small”. Children are no less deserving of our attention and respect than anyone our same size. In Scripture, Jesus is plain about how much children have to teach us and how we should cling to the qualities that are innate in us lest they be stolen by this world as we grow. I personally have the joy of stewarding little minds in my own home, and I would venture to say that I have gained more insight and wisdom from my time with them than most anything else. They love openly, forgive quickly, are brutally honest but never judgmental. Perhaps most beautiful of all is how trusting and vulnerable they are, entirely dependent on our care but never worried, never controlling. 

My oldest often wakes up asking “Am I big, am I a Daddy now?”  I was busy cleaning the kitchen one day when he asked me if he could pump gas. I told him that he has to be a little older to pump the gas. To which I received a deep sigh and a blunt, “I wish I could just be a Dad already!”. I reminded him that Daddy has to work while he gets to play and that it's important to just enjoy where he is today. I imagine this is where Jesus gave me the side eye, knowing what was about to happen. My Son went on to tell me how he wanted to grow up and work, so I asked what he wanted to do for work. He said, “drive a tractor like a farmer”. Which was the newest career choice on a long and winding list. Another incredible thing about children is how strongly they believe in themselves. The thought never crosses his mind that it may a difficult pursuit to become an "astronaut" or a "submarine driver" for example. It's almost like the lack of oxygen both on the moon and under the surface of the ocean somehow fuels his desire and fills him with hope.

I kept cleaning but saw an opportunity to talk about Jesus, as I obviously love to do, so I asked him “What do you think Jesus wants you to do?”. Without a second thought he said, “Get my brother a juice”. I stopped washing dishes and gave him a bit of a puzzled look before he got into the fridge and got his brother a juice and left. When he left, I realized there were three of us having the conversation and the Holy Spirit had just made His point known without a word. 

Right there, through my Mommy tears, while the sink water ran, I realized how guilty of missing the present opportunities I can be because I get so busy thinking through the future ones. It’s our flesh that rushes and stresses but Jesus says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need… Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matt 6:33-34) and “whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 18:4) 

So take a deep breath, grab the juice box, and trust Him with everything beyond that. It's His plan after all.