Have you noticed how a child can lose their sense of wonder, imagination, creativity, and curiosity as they grow older? Many older adults seem like they have completely lost these four characteristics! How does this process happen? Jesus welcomed children and emphasized the importance of having the child like spirit as we follow Him. What would happen if young adults and older Christian’s followers modeled absence of wonder, imagination, creativity and curiosity in our hope, faith and love in Jesus? Maybe the next generation would be on target to also model His kingdom and His will being done.
“Therefore, even more than at the times fairy tales were invented, it is important to provide the modern child with images of heroes who have to go out into the world all by themselves and who, although originally ignorant of the ultimate things, find secure places in the world by following their right way with deep inner confidence.” - Bruno Bettelheim, The Uses of Enchantment
“Jesus rebuked the disciples’ behavior, challenging the thinking behind it. He then went a step further to teach them two truths about children and the kingdom. “For it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs” (Mark 10:14). The kingdom belongs to people who have nothing to offer in exchange for it. They do not seek admission based on status, standing, power, affluence, connection, or merit. They receive the kingdom as a gift of God’s grace. Grace is the only way anyone enters the kingdom.” - Excerpt , Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford
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