Advent Twenty Three - As a Child

Children of Calais by Ian Wolter.
In Dorset House Gardens, Saffron Walden.

 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 

“Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.  Matthew 18 1-5

We all know that there is something wonderful about little children.  "Change, and become like a little child."  Little children live for today.  They look out of their eyes at the world, and forget about themselves.  When they do remember themselves, they tend to be open and honest.  Their failings are plain to see.  They can love anyone.  They tend not to be interested in expensive things, but have attachments to simple things, such as sticks or feathers. 

Little children wear their heart on their sleeve.  They laugh, cry, love and  delight in simple things, such as tiny creatures, or puddles.

Once when I was looking after the under 5's at church, Joshua. Andre's son, looked into my ear (I was sitting on the floor) he pulled on the protruding hair and said 'you've got as beard in your ear'. 

PRAYER: I come to you with simple faith and trust that I need nothing else other than to live with you.

Children of Calais is a replication of the famous Rodin sculpture called the burgers of Calais (1898).  One statue is outside Calais' Marie, and the other is in the Gardens at the Palace of Westminster.