Childlike Faith.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” – Matthew 18:1-5

Recently I’ve been learning about the beauty of being a child of God. Sitting with Him as my father, and simply enjoying His company has become so special to me. There is a specific type of security that comes with allowing yourself to fall into the arms of your dad. I’ve been blessed with the person I get to call my dad on earth, and I think that has given me a deeper appreciation for the love that the Lord has for me as my heavenly father. I have a newfound passion and love for getting to be like a little kid with my dad (aka, God). That comfort, that safety, and that type of freedom is unlike anything I’ve ever felt in my life.
Running around with little children has always been one of my favorite activities. I love it when kiddos feel safe and secure in my arms, falling asleep next to me on the couch. Especially the laughter that comes in the midst of simple joy and the excitement that comes with learning something new. It always fills my heart to experience joy through their eyes. Those small moments make me look forward to the potential of being a mother someday. I’ve loved teaching children for as long as I can remember, and being in Guatemala has only made that love grow exponentially.
Ministry here is nothing like I ever expected. My team is partnered with two different ministries, both of which have provided many different and beautiful experiences. A few days ago, my squad went out into one of the smaller cities to ask the Lord where He wanted us to be. I was in a group of four girls, and I felt drawn to a little flower stand near the end of the park. After we arrived, we stood around for thirty seconds staring at each other in confusion asking why God led us there specifically. Suddenly, there was a six-year-old girl standing beside me and she immediately grabbed my hand. This opened the door to an hour of laughter, conversation, and gratitude. There were six kids who ran around with us, playing games and enjoying our presence. They held our hands and gave us hugs. We were strangers, and they welcomed us in despite the language barrier. It’s inspiring to see how open these children were to us, and how we should be open to the Lord in the same manner with a willingness to receive His love, and what He has for us even if we don’t fully understand everything.
The next day, we went to one of the local schools and led a P.E. class for two groups of kids. Originally, I was uncomfortable at the idea of being surrounded by a bunch of kids who wouldn’t understand anything I was saying. By the time the second class had started, I was completely comfortable and in my element. Halfway through, one of the little boys climbed on my back and started laughing. After I put him down, he later came back to me and said “I want you to be my friend” in Spanish. Obviously, I accepted his offer of friendship. When it was time to say goodbye, he gave me the biggest hug and wouldn’t let go. Somehow he got all of his friends to swarm me, to the point where I had eight little boys, and one girl all giving me hugs. When he refused to leave, I let him walk with me over to where I was sitting with my team and we said goodbye. He was released from class immediately after and ran back to me. Something about my presence was special to him, and I didn’t want to leave him either. That small interaction, in those ten minutes, renewed every hope I’ve ever had about working with kids. It reminded me of the love that we have for the Lord, and how being in His presence is so sweet that we never want to let go.
I like to think about how God tells us to have childlike faith. I wouldn’t say that it is something I’m gifted in, but the more I work with children, the more I grow to understand the passages. “Then the little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.” – Matthew 19:13-15.
I want to run to Jesus and hold onto Him. I never want to let go of His safety, and the love He brings. The trust and faith that the little boy had in knowing my presence was a safe place, is the type of faith and trust that I hope to have in the Lord. I called the boy “my shadow”, and I hope to be a little shadow of the Lord. It’s that type of faith I pray to have with my father in heaven on a daily basis. These relationships and children have brought me so much joy, and peace. I love getting to love them, and their joy is beautiful to witness. Being a part of these ministries has been such an honor, and I look forward to working with these children and learning from their light over the next five weeks here in Guatemala. My heart is so full of gratitude for this beautiful life, and the children I get to work with.

One of my sweet friends captured this moment, and I am so happy that I get to share it with you. :