Modeling Child-likeness

We expect older children to engage life more and more like adults. As parents, it is our responsibility to see that this happens.

Naturally, we show pleasure and pride when they think and act like adults.

However, Jesus says to us, “Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:17)

This suggests God’s present Kingdom reality becomes more accessible to us if we are willing to forego a preoccupation with our ‘adult perspective’ and, instead, stoop down to gain a child’s perspective.

This begs a question: As we expect our youth to act like adults, do we unintentionally push them away from seeing God’s Kingdom, and entering it, as little children?

This is a very real risk.

Two years ago I was at a retreat. The retreat was permeated with praising God in song. At one point my voice needed a rest. I sat down to be still, and listen as others sang on.

I immediately thought of my family back home and our evening ritual of praising God together. I was pleased as I pictured us in our living room. There we sat, worshipping God – the little children dancing in the middle while the adults and older children sat around and sang.

– "the little children dancing in the middle while the adults and older children sat around and sang."

Then the scene in my mind changed: King David, dancing as He led the procession bringing the ark of the covenant home. He was dancing wildly “girded with a linen ephod.” Some translators suggest he was barely clothed. (2 Samuel 6:12-23) His wife, Michal, was embarrassed when she saw Him. It was below a King to behave like that.

In that moment I was convicted. My little children had just taught me a lesson. Their worship – dancing, laughing, sometimes hardly singing due to exertion – perfectly emulated King David. Meanwhile, I was stoic.

My teenage children had clearly got the message I conveyed. Under my unintented discipleship in ‘adult’ worship, they sat as still as I did each evening. And sometimes the whole lot of us privately became annoyed with the raucous joy of the little ones.

Things have changed since then.

Now, when it is their turn to lead, the little children lead us however they want (still within reason). At least one third of our evening worship times include marching and dancing in our barn-home – sometimes with a tambourine and an egg shaker!

If you are a parent or grandparent, how you talk about your journey with God – and even more, how you walk that journey publicly, on a daily basis, is a deeper discipleship than your words. Especially to your teen and adult children. But it is never too late to get childlike – in all aspects of your life with God!

And in the process of growing more childlike with your Father, you will most certainly enter the Kingdom of God more deeply. And as a result, usher your children closer to Him.

Try it.