If you ever want to hear the truth, listen to a child speak. They haven't figured out that sometimes the truth hurts. That not everything observed should be said out loud. They haven't learned the manipulation of flattery, or how to say something untrue just to appease someone. Grownups can wield words as weapons, or manipulate words for their own agenda. Grownups have a filter, but some chose to ignore it all together. But children say things because it's simply how they see it. Unfiltered, unedited in all it's glory.... good and bad.
Have you ever had just "one of those days?" You know that one I'm talking about. The one where the whole world seems to be pushing you down. When you can be doing 100 things with grace, mercy, kindness..... and well just plain goodness, and then someone points their finger at the one thing you missed the mark on, or that one flaw that you haven't overcome, and all the sudden doubt sets in. You rally to try harder, spin the plates a little faster, and then end up feeling like a failure and a disappointment. Like maybe your not good enough. Well I had one of those weeks. Defeated, deflated and broken down.
As I was buckling my grandson into his car seat, I happened to just look into his little face. He was so beautiful it made my heart smile. I thought, this God, is good. This is pure, this fills me with joy. So I couldn't help saying to my grandson, "you are God's beautiful creation." My two year old grandson put his pudgy little hands on both sides of my cheeks in a gentle caress. "You Grandma, are God's beautiful creation." And just like that, those words filled all the empty spaces in my wounded heart. Have other people told me I'm amazing? Sure. But when my two year old grandson said it, I believed him.
The bible tells us in Matthew 18:3 "Assuredly I say to you, unless you change and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." Why would God say this? Because children are innocent and trust with pure, uncorrupted hearts. Childlike faith, along with childlike love, is a direct path to God's heart. Children are not concerned with the burdens and limitations the world places on them. As adults we let these hurdles slow us down, knock us down, or keep us down. Jesus is telling us to have child like faith. To trust him for our identity, our value and our significance. Rely on him to fill the empty spaces and supply our needs, just as a child depends on his parents for food, care, and love.
I let the world tell me I was missing the mark. Instead of turning my eyes to God, I crumbled. I didn't see like a child sees. That God is bigger than my limitations and my faults. That I am his beautiful creation, imperfect as I am.
I want to tell you today, that you my friend, are God's beautiful creation. No matter what is going on in your life, have faith that God made you on purpose and with a plan!