Like a Child
Dan Kunz
Every July our family gets together for some great family fun time. Sometimes it’s at our house. Sometimes it’s at a cabin or house “up Nort”. The group usually numbers fourteen or fifteen. Fishing, canoeing, kayaking, board games, win-lose-or-draw, campfires and cookouts make for memories that last a lifetime. Sometimes, however, the memories aren’t completely pleasant, like the time several of the grandkids came down with “swimmer’s itch” from the lake where our rental was located. All-in-all, we very much look forward to our time together.
This past week was our annual rendezvous and as usual, a great time was had by all. Our four-year-old grandson even managed to teach “Grampy” a valuable lesson. Ez and I were enjoying time in the swimming pool together. As long as he was at the shallow end, where the steps are located, he was fine. As soon as he got into deeper water, my help was needed. (Although Ez takes “swimming lessons”, he’s not really able to swim yet.) We did find a fun way to navigate around the pool. He put on his goggles, grabbed one of my fingers, and floated, face down, again and again and again. He even did a little kicking and paddled with his free hand. As long as I was right next to him and he could hold on to my hand, he was calm and confident. By the way, Ez is not normally a bold, daring kid, so this was quite an accomplishment for him. When we sent a video to his mom, she was very impressed!
As I thought about our experience in the pool, I realized that once again, a little child taught a grownup something about God. As long as he was on his own, Ez was somewhat hesitant and timid. As soon as he grabbed my hand, he was able to launch into deep water. He trusted that I would be there when he needed me. If he got into trouble, I would certainly grab him, but most of the time I was the one he clung to in order to stay safe. Isn’t that the perfect picture of trust? When we’re on our own, we should be hesitant and timid. Our strength, wisdom, and knowledge are no match for the devil. When we, through faith, grab the hand of God which is offered, we can launch into deep water boldly and confidently. When it’s needed, God will lift us up, but most of the time he lets us express our faith and trust in him by grabbing his almighty hand.
It’s no wonder that Jesus used the example of children again and again to teach grownups how to act, how to trust, and how to honor him. The disciples didn’t “get it” right away, but we many times don’t either. Sometimes Jesus, through the example of a child, teaches us what we need to know. Matthew 18:3 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Thank you Ez, my little teacher, for showing me what it means to trust, what it means to have the faith to move mountains, and what is means to be bold and fearless, while holding Jesus’ hand.