He called a child

It's summer time and the ice cream flows freely around our house, especially on hot afternoon's like today. I've just finished dishing out the cold creamy stuff to my three. My oldest, however was not interested in joining us for "Cream". He was dancing around outside of the laundry room door ( I keep it locked, lol, and that's another story), because he wanted the DVD player inside, which is in time out at the moment. He was very grumpy, because he wasn't getting what he wanted, and he was on the brink of an all out melt down about this DVD thing. After I had the bowls of ice cream ready, I told my other two at the table to sing the favorite song...(that would be the Happy Birthday song). I knew if they sang it, my little "Grumpy Gus" would break out in a big smile and run to where the singing was going on, because he knows that ice cream or cake is being served. Sure enough, we hadn't gotten a few words into the familiar tune, when here he came, happy as could be, with all of his frustrations and grumpiness forgotten, running at full tilt towards his bowl of ice cream. It reminded my of how Jesus told his disciples (Matt. 18:1-4) that unless they changed, and became like little children, they could not enter the kingdom of heaven.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?". He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18: 1-4.

I wonder if they knew what he was talking about at the time. The first time I read it, I did not have children, and it's full meaning was lost on me, until I experienced motherhood. My oldest, was born with Down Syndrome & Autism, so even though he is a teenager (14) he is very much a child and will always be...and that's how God created him. He gets frustrated, grumpy, angry, stubborn and pitches a fit when he doesn't get his way, but he has the heart of a child. He forgives, he forgets his troubles and moves on. He will never get puffed up on his own accomplishments, self righteous or any of the stuff that trips the rest of us up. He doesn't get bogged down in grown up worries. He is happy to be who he is, loving, laughing, trusting his parents to take care of him, just like we should trust our Heavenly Father to take care of us. Wouldn't it be great if the Happy Birthday song brought us running with a smile on our face to our Heavenly Father, knowing he has something special for us, maybe cake, maybe ice cream, maybe heaven!