Job 12:7-12
“But ask the animals what they think—let them teach you;
let the birds tell you what’s going on.
Put your ear to the earth—learn the basics.
Listen—the fish in the ocean will tell you their stories.
Isn’t it clear that they all know and agree
that God is sovereign, that he holds all things in his hand—
Every living soul, yes,
every breathing creature?
Isn’t this all just common sense,
as common as the sense of taste?
Do you think the elderly have a corner on wisdom,
that you have to grow old before you understand life?”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
My
nephew, Timothy, will be five years old in a little over a week, yet he
has a wisdom that far exceeds his years. I’m not talking about his
ability to count to 100 or his uncanny capacity for reciting entire
scenes from movies verbatim. I’m talking about his appreciation of the
simplest of pleasures…a cheese sandwich (no crust)… a thrift-store
Velociraptor or T-Rex – or a plastic tub full of garage-sale cars,
trucks and planes…a “Christmas” blanket and a “soft” Santa Claus – and a
recording of “Frosty The Snowman” played for the gazillionth time…or a
trip to the park to play. I am also referring to his awareness of
nature…how he notices the intricacies of a bug AND the beauty of
others…and his appreciation for a “wonderful day” that includes sunshine
and doing the things he loves with the people he loves.
More
importantly, Timothy has a huge heart…for living creatures – and for
God. He doesn’t question…he trusts. He seems to have a depth of
understanding and acceptance of God that eludes people ten times or more
his age! He appears to comprehend God’s power and strength – and His
unconditional love and care. This little boy doesn’t notice age, sex,
skin color, or socio-economic differences. He doesn’t hesitate to tell
the ticket taker at the bouncy houses in the park that she is
beautiful…or to greet an elderly person with a hug and ask “How is your
day going?” Every child he encounters is a potential “friend”…and he
doesn’t hold grudges.
Author and speaker Beth Moore writes in
Feathers From My Nest that children will be influenced exponentially by
people and forces outside of the home as they grow and venture forth.
And sadly, they will lose some of their innocence and trusting
nature…and maybe even their faith. No longer will they be so willing to
take people and situations at face value. They will become too busy to
“stop and smell the roses” in many instances…and they may begin to
question everything – including God. I know that she is right. It
happens to most of us…and it may happen to our little guy.
But
there is good news. While we changed as we grew…God has NOT changed. He
is still with us…still there for us in every minute – in every way…and
we can find Him again and give Him our full trust and devotion. The
first step is to stop and get still and quiet for a little bit…to look
around and truly SEE God in the detailed pattern of fur on your dog or
cat – or that cow-lick in your hair…to marvel at the incredible
attention He has given to the body of even a lowly moth or
grasshopper…to appreciate His gift of sunshine and rain – seasons and
surprises. Take a full assessment of your life and recognize where God
has provided…how He has guided your steps and cared for you along the
way.
Devote a few minutes to reviewing where you stepped away
from God and tried to “have it your way”. Acknowledge how this may not
have worked out so well…and pledge to stay more attuned to His will and
direction in the future. In essence, become a kid again…but not
necessarily in the way you might think. Quit making everything so
complicated and return to the child-like wonder of a relationship with
God…the time when life was simpler and “under-analyzed”…when all you
needed was a cheese sandwich, your favorite blanket and a plastic
dinosaur or bug book…and the people you loved.
Find God
again…and reconnect with Him by surrendering YOUR will to His. Let
“nature” and the “wisdom” of a five-year-old be your guide.
©2014 Debbie Robus
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