Have You Lost Your Childlike Joy?

“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

    When I was a child I found joy and excitement in so many things. I remember looking forward to Saturdays, because here in the U.S.A. that was “Cartoon Day” for us. We eagerly anticipated all the cartoons on television that day of every week.

    We got excited about going to the park or to the playground. We were ecstatic about going to get an ice cream cone. If my ten year old self could see the blessings we enjoy today he probably would burst for joy.

    Jesus loved children. He saw in them a sense of joy and wonder that too often fades in adults as the years go by, leaving faithlessness and bitterness in its place. Sadly, even we Christians who have more reason for joy than anyone else on earth are too often joyless.

    When we get to heaven, I suspect all the old, tired, adult bad moods and attitudes we have will be quickly replaced with the kind of joy we lived with every day as children. What awesome wonders await us. What a majestic God we will meet there!

    Every good thing we have ever known on earth will be multiplied a thousand times over there.

    Christian, I know very well how illness, disease, and continued disabilities and afflictions of all kinds can rob you of joy, leaving pain and misery instead. Yet I believe, even if it takes some effort, we need to rekindle that childlike joy and wonder we once knew. We need those childlike eyes that could find wonder, awe, and happiness in the smallest of things.

    I encourage you this week to rediscover the child within you. Discover if you are able to see with the eyes of a child, finding wonder and joy and happiness in the everyday things we too often take for granted.

    Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to be childlike, but not childish and immature. Help us to rekindle that childlike joy and wonder we all enter this world with. Amen.