They like to dress up like super heroes and princesses. They are fascinated with things that spin, fly or crawl. They are small.
They dance like no one’s watching.
They sing like superstars.
I love hanging out with them. I love talking to them.
I love their questions. Like the time when a little girl asked me, “Do bugs sweat?”
Or when another once asked me, “How old is God? Is He 56?”
Children are bringers of joy. I make it a point to have them around in my little world, even though I don’t have my own children yet. I’ve been an elementary school teacher, a Sunday school teacher, a babysitter, a nanny, a tutor, a mentor and a ballet teacher (even though I don’t know the first thing about ballet).
I spend time in the foster system regularly, and people sometimes commend me on this “labor” of spending time with them. But really, I just have to say that though there are some laborious moments, these kids share beautiful pieces of God’s heart with me without even trying.
God’s beauty is there, in their eyes and smiles and voices—and I love finding Him there, in the face of a child.
For it is to these unique and precious little people Jesus has told us the kingdom belongs. These who have been made weak and dependent. Who are tender and always learning. Who have faith built into them, eager to believe the outstanding.
And as one of these, Jesus came into the world, a light shining in the darkness. In humility, He took on the form of a helpless infant and grew up a simple child in the small town of Nazareth. In fact, a considerable portion of God’s 30-plus years on the earth were spent as a child. Yes, to demonstrate the humble heart of God, but the astounding reality of the God-Man in a small, young frame also proclaims the profound value of a child.
As a tender shoot, He grew up before us.
From our Lord’s very entrance into the world, He was declaring the abounding worth of a child, not skipping that season of human existence, but becoming a little one Himself.
So maybe we could say children are some of God’s favorites too.
We need to listen to these young ones. Because they have things to say.
And ask them questions. Because they often have the most amazing answers. Maybe you’re not sure what to ask. And if that’s the case, I’ll give you a few just to get the ball rolling. Ready?
1. Would you rather sleep on a cloud or slide down a rainbow?
2. If the sky rained food, what would you want it to rain?
3. What is your favorite Bible verse?
4. Would you rather ride a giraffe or an elephant around town?
5. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
6. What’s your favorite song?
7. Would you rather be able to fly like a bird or swim like a fish?
8. What makes you laugh?
9. What makes you sad?
10. If you could spend the day with one person and do anything you want, who would it be and what would you do?
11. What do you want to be when you grow up?
12. If someone gave you $100, what would you do with it?
13. Would you rather be able to run really fast or jump really high? Why?
14. Who is your hero?
15. If Jesus came and sat down next to you, what would you say to Him?
16. If Jesus came and sat down next to you, what do you think He would say to you?
17. What’s your favorite Bible story?
18. If it was Jesus’ birthday, what gift would you give Him?
19. If Jesus gave you a gift on your birthday, what do you think He would give you?
20. What’s something that you think God enjoys about you?
So crouch down, get eye-to-eye with the little ones in your world, and discover, in their young faces, the heart of God. Let’s let their joy, their simplicity, their outstanding faith, their poverty of spirit teach us some things that we tend to forget in our grownup-ness.
Kinsey Thurlow is a minister at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. She is an advocate for the fatherless and her husband, Jon is a worship leader and minister at IHOP-KC.
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