“Higha, higha Mummy!” Her fat fingers grip the tight to the metal chain, as the swing’s momentum climbs and falls again. Sweet, gurgling laughter fills my ears as I push ‘higha’, and watch delight overwhelm her face. Pure joy, no room for fear. One of my greatest privileges by far is being this girl’s mother - yet I am constantly challenged and humbled by all she teaches me. There is beauty in every flower, no matter how dead or alive, weed or magnolia. There is delight in running through soft grass, picking an assortment of leaves, watching ants busying, and chasing birds till our feet are tired. She tenderly over-waters every pot-plant till dirt oozes over the pot’s side. She fastidiously collects and sorts clothes pegs from one bucket to the next and back again, and the tupperware cupboard holds hours of fascination. Every passer-by is greeted with a “Hi!” and smile, every airplane is waved goodbye until it disappears into the clouds. Every day is wonder. Every day is free. “At that time the disciples came to ask Jesus, “Who is considered to be the greatest in heaven’s kingdom realm?” Jesus called a little one [or toddler] to his side and said to them, “Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable and learn about heaven’s kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a child, you will never be able to enter in. Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this gentle child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm.” Matt 18:1-4 // Passion translation ‘Like a gentle child’ - so often I dismiss this simplistic truth, feeling somehow justified by my concern or worry, and my identity secured in the busyness of my days. I trade wide-eyed wonder for close-fisted fear. My pride blinds me from what I am truly missing, while in pursuit of things that will not last. The young child, the sweet-eyed toddler, is free - secure in the love of a parent, they have no thought to the next meal, or the clothes they will wear, or whether today will be a good or a bad one. Every day is begun in eager expectation, and walked through with simple faith that every need will be provided for, every desire fulfilled. This is the beautiful life, the way we were formed to live!
1 Comment
Natalie
7/27/2018 05:06:42 pm
Beautifully said Hannah. So good to remember that our father will provide for all our needs and to begin each day with new anticipation.
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AuthorHannah Mai Archives
October 2016
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