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The Faith of a Child
Laughter and giggles fill the air as he chases grasshoppers in the tall dry grasses of fall. Large maple leaves are stuffed into pockets with pudgy little hands for later use when he gets out his coloring crayons and glue.
Quiet time is not the favorite time of day for most four-year-old boys. Seems it always starts with tears and ends in relief that once again their growing legs can run and jump.
Stories are the reward for settling down quickly. Climbing up into her lap with his favorite snuggly and a cup of milk only adds to the love received from the gentle calming voice of the narrator.
The story being told was not a fairytale; it was real and came from that special Book Nana loved so much. The words from this Book would have special meaning today as she would tell him of a new home being built in a far away city. The thought of a move would surely cause confusion and insecurity in the safekeeping developed from the time of birth. His bedroom with all his special toys and brightly painted walls would clearly change. What about baby brother, he likes me to make him laugh? Daddy, Mommy, Papa, and Nana, the most important people in his world, would they all be moving to this new home in the New City? He's told anyone that has a ticket is allowed in the New City.
This New Home is too far away to show him on the map of his recent trip to the Zoo. How could it be farther than that he wonders. How will we get there? Will we take the train like we did to the ocean? He jumps up and his arms go out to his sides as he glides around the room, will we fly? The Special Book says the Builder of the New City will be coming to get him on Great and Mighty Wings.
What about our tickets? Do we have our tickets yet he quizzes? Oh, the tickets, one of the most important parts of the story. They have been purchased by the Builder for anyone who wants to move to His City. Those tickets were very, very costly, yet the Builder loves us so much He paid for them with the works of His Son. They are free if we love Him and His Son.
What about the zoo, will the zoo get to go too? There will be animals, every kind imaginable. They will not be kept in cages, because they were meant to be free like you and me. You can ride them and play with them whenever you want! Even big tigers, as once again the musical giggles erupt with contagious excitement? I'm going to ride a giraffe and an elephant. Can I hold the baby bears? You can hold them and love them, and run with them to catch grasshoppers.
In between outbursts of enthusiasm he stops jumping up and down long enough to peer out the window and look high up in the sky. Can the Builder of the City come and get us now?
Annette Lou Williams
Luke 18:17 "Verily I say unto you, Whoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein."
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