Kingdom of Heaven

Heading down the aisle of the grocery store, I could hear the soft rolling of a cart directly behind me. My young child noticed the pusher of the cart before I did. It was an elderly gentleman quietly minding his own business in the frozen food aisle… until he noticed my young child noticing him.

Upon one side of his soft wrinkled face was a large gauze patch tinted in tell-tale red. His eyes, though kind and warm, were crusted and sunken back into his face. Large sores dotted his pale forehead. He was frail in body but strong in spirit.

My daughter walked right up to his side and asked him if he was sore from his apparent afflictions. He responded to her curious nature with gentleness and grace. It was cancer that had invaded his body, and is currently recovering from his 19th surgery to remove the patches that had grown on his face. He looked like death warmed over on the outside, yet my child had no fear in approaching this man with her inquiry and sharing with him the bright character bandage stuck to the back of her own foot as if the sympathize with his pain.

It was his response to my child that caused me to admire his demeanour. Though the battle he is fighting is ravaging his body from the inside out, it did not appear to ravage his soul for he did not seem fazed that life had taken him down this particular path. He shared with me that he is approached by children quite often in public places and he absolutely adores how candid and honest they are. Children are real. They are not fearful of his condition, nor judgemental in their questions. They possess no concern over the emotional war of curiosity, nor do they absorb the negative emotions of others when they ask about his condition.

And little children act this way regardless of the situation or circumstance. They do not trouble themselves with the faults of yesterday nor worry about tomorrow. How many times have we chosen to keep silent on things with our children simply to avoid their constant badgering and restlessness? They certainly experience a roller coaster of emotions on any given day- or any given moment- but they are swiftly fleeting. Trespasses are easily forgiven, everyone is always welcome, and love for all are beloved. And the greatest trait of a little child is their ability to let the thoughts and opinions of others wash away like the draining of water from a bathtub.

There is a well known life lesson documented in the book of Matthew that many of us struggle to put into practice. Jesus was travelling and teaching throughout Galilee and, while in the middle of a crowd, was prepared to pray blessing upon the children who were in the midst of His presence. The disciples did not want the children to pester Jesus and attempted to keep them away, but Jesus rebuked the disciples for their apparent indifference to the children.

Matthew 19:14, 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.”

Christ is well aware of our emotional struggles, and perhaps if we put the nature of a child into practice a little more often, the struggles of which we face would release some pressure off of our soul. If we did not dwell upon the faults of yesterday nor the troubles of tomorrow, easily forgive every trespass, accept others and make them feel welcome, and love for all are beloved, the Kingdom of Heaven will be ours.

Father, we ask that you help us put into practice a simple life lesson: submitting unto your feet with the heart of a little child. In Jesus name, Amen.

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