faith like a child...

This week is child protection week. Maybe it seems strange to you that we should have a week to focus on this, but it really does make so much sense. Children are so teachable and believe so easily, and are therefore vulnerable and also exactly what we should be.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of very hurt people who weren't loved when they were a child, and so end up hurting other people. Hurt people hurt people. This is why it is so important to love our children, to protect them, because in doing so, we protect the rest of humanity. Children learn and watch and absorb. They follow and believe whoever has the dominant role in their life. We need to be so careful. It is such an amazingly beautiful responsibility and privilege to teach a child how to live, because you are creating the future.

The beautiful thing about kids is their heart and faith. They are so teachable, so loving, caring, inquisitive, joyful and free. They haven't learned how to fear or doubt or lie or hate. They don't know the concept of boredom, greed or pride. They learn that from us. I think it's fascinating and beautiful that Jesus tells us to have faith like a child in order to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. We need to believe with that same teachable, joyful, free spirit without fear, doubt, pride or anger. We lose so much when we grow up - we forget how to really live and how to really have joy and really be free. We busy ourselves and worry and do. When we were kids, there was joy in just being, and everything was a game and therefore fun! Nothing was impossible - we just needed help from out parents or friends.

Our Father's Kingdom is just like that. Life is meant to be fun and joyful and free... We are meant to attempt the 'impossible' with His help and resources. But it's not about the accomplishment or the doing - it's about the journey, the adventure, the relationship. He wants us to have fun and enjoy life with Him.

We need to have faith like a child... God, we believe - help our unbelief! Un-teach our skewed perceptions of You and the world, and teach us Truth again. Increase my faith, so that I may see Your face.