Matthew 18:1-6  About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (NLT)

Matthew 19:13-15  One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. 

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. (NLT)

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My bride and I have a weekly dinner with our three-year-old granddaughter. This week was a special treat. Last week, we took our precocious little one to dinner, followed by a trip to the mattress store. Across the parking lot was a shoe store. The tiny tot decided we were going there next. We left with some light-up crocs. 

Near the checkout stand stood a display of vibrantly colored backpacks. You know what happened next. Little eyes grew large, a little mouth formed a perfect circle, and little hands could not resist touching and holding each backpack in turn. However, we were able to exit the store without purchasing a backpack. 

Fast forward to this week’s dinner night. Our granddaughter and her grandmother had returned to the shoe store the day before to take another look at the backpacks. A bright pink one was purchased. It bears a white unicorn with other decorative flourishes. 

The bright and shiny backpack accompanied us to dinner this week. Inside it was a fancy dress. Daddy would not let his dainty daughter wear Belle’s gown to school. No matter. She tucked it as neatly as she knows how into the backpack. The wee one changed into her festive clothing for our trip to dinner at her favorite restaurant with us and her great-grandmother. 

She could not have been happier. We couldn’t help but smile and laugh. 

At one point, she stood in her seat and leaned her elbows on the table to take a drink of milk from her large cup. I called her by name and said, “I think you got prettier today.” She replied, “Yes, I did.”

No arrogance or pride accompanied her words. She agreed with this self-evident truth. How could she not be prettier? She was wearing a fancy dress!

This lack of pretension, this joy of life, this delightful evening, help me understand the two Bible passages above. Children are much freer to be who they were meant to be. They express their thoughts and feelings. They declare who they are by what they do and say. They understand the high value of play. They make the most of special moments. 

You have to think, don’t you, that the children Jesus talked about in the passages above loved hanging from his arms, riding on his back, and holding on to his leg as he tried to walk? Can’t you see him with a baby in his arms? Can’t you hear the laughter and feel the love?

Heaven comes near in the wonder of fancy dresses and loving laughter. 

Heaven is a long hello. Heaven echoes with laughter. Heaven is full of fancy dresses and loving embraces. 

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I will enjoy the heavenly delights of little ones who make me join their laughter and delight in their embrace. 

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Our Father, bless us with the unconscious joy of living the life we were meant to live. Bless us with easy laughter and tender affection. Bless us with delight in the colorful expression of beauty and wonder. Thank you for these special gifts. Amen.