Faith Like a Little Child

Mark 10:15 and Luke 18:17 say, "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

I have often heard of these passages and have known it to mean that we should have faith as a child has faith in order to enter the kingdom of God. I admit, I have not pondered this much, but instantly drew upon the passages today as my daughter reminded me that we may be struggling with our own fears, anxieties and problems, but there are those whose struggles and problems are far greater than any we are facing and our faith will bring us all through.

Lula's bestie is an adorable and charming little girl named Anne from England. Her family moved here 4 years ago and they were in Kindergarten together. The two became fast friends and were so close that the teacher frequently misused their names in class and even in our parent teacher conferences (their real names actually do sound similar).

This sweet young girl was diagnosed that year with a rare eye disorder that we learned would eventually take her sight completely. We were heartbroken for the family and for Anne. We hurt for her parents and mourned all the things that she would never experience like nature walks, driving a car or looking into the eyes of the man or child she loves. It is human nature to feel sorry for someone in this situation and we all do, but her parents have taught us that more than our pity, she just needs our love and encouragement. And as children do, she just gets on with things! She has shown courage and a beautiful spirit as her sight has declined in only 3 short years to shadows and the detection of movement.

Despite Anne attending a different school for the last two years and into the future, she and Lula have remained steadfast in their friendship. They have both made other friends, but none compare to each other. They formed a bond paramount to sisterhood at the tender age of 6 that is unshaken by the fact they see each other only a couple times per month.

It is this bond that stirred Lula's heart today as she, completely out of the blue, told me that she wished she had a time machine. When I asked her why, she said that even though there must be something good to come of Anne's blindness, she would take Anne back to the time of Jesus so He could heal her.

When I picked my jaw up off the ground and dried the tear that had sprung to my eye, I realized what a special gift "Faith" is through the eyes of a child. Lula knows there is no such thing as a time machine, but she knows that she knows that if there were, Jesus would heal her friend.