The Spirit of a Child

My youngest daughter has infused me with new life. She is two years old now. God has totally used this little toddler to show me some things about myself. I had turned inward before she arrived in our lives. I was living for myself. And even though I love my wife and my other children, I had taken a very selfish posture in life. My walk with the Lord had become stale. And my sinful nature was the culprit at the center of my inward turning.

Now, with the help of my Lord Jesus, and a precious little two-year old girl… I’ve re-discovered “love”, the verb and turned myself back toward God.

And it’s made me think about something. What is it about the spirit of a child that is so life-changing to her parents? Certainly, I understand the Lord has the power to do whatever He pleases. And I know that He could change my heart at anytime. But what is it about this child? I really thought about it. And what I think God wanted me to see was this… when this precious baby is conscious, there are four things she does in her life.

1. She loves. Her survival is based on this. She goes from me to Mommy, from Brother to Sister, Grandma to Grandpa… and at each stop she makes eye contact, hugs and kisses, and interacts with affection. It is the spirit of my little girl… she loves.

2. She laughs. She goes out of her way to smile and laugh. She sometimes laughs at things that really aren’t funny. And she’ll laugh at those things even louder and more pronounced. It’s almost like you can see her effort to find a laugh. She seeks it out, and finds it. And it is almost as contagious as her love.

3. She obeys. She wants to do anything she can to make Mommy and Daddy proud of her. She is very well-behaved, and for a two-year old I know that is unique! But she listens and does what is asked of her, in search of that beloved praise from her parents.

4. She trusts. She blindly trusts us. She will be four or five steps above me on the stairway, and she’ll just jump down toward me without warning. She does this because she knows in her heart that her Daddy will catch her without fail. And you can see both the thrill and the security in her face every time she does this. This trust has produced faith. And having faith is a huge part of the Christian walk.

So what is it about the spirit of a child? It’s simple. Love, Laugh, Obey, and Trust. And it’s precisely what God wants for ALL of His children.

Thank You for making my adorable, little girl an example for me to find You again, Lord. Amen.