One week in Romania we were doing a VBS in a village called Marca. We drove out of the Romanian part of Marca parked beside a hill and then hiked over the hill. In the valley below we found the Roma village. Many children raced out of their homes and up the hill to greet us. Instinctively placing their little hands in our own and guiding us into the village.
Razvan grabbed my hand and held on with all the might in his skinny arms. From that point on, my hand seemed to belong to Razan; if anyone else thought of holding it they were in for it! There were actually a few times I had to reprimand Razvan for being unkind to other children if one of my hands wasn't available for his.
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| Razvan |
Razvan was about 6 years old. He rarely parted from my side that week. He sought me each morning, followed me, clung to me, laughed and talked with me. His single-minded devotion reminded me of how I should cling to my Heavenly Father: with unyielding determination to draw close to Him.
I'm sure Razvan had no idea how much he was teaching me. He was simply being the child God created him to be.
He wanted to show me each time he did something well and struggled to face me when he knew he had done wrong. However, he would never worry long. He knew I would still love him, even if I had to correct him. My attitude should be similar toward God; a realization when I disappoint Him, but in the realization needs to come the acceptance of His forgiveness. Too many adults I know, myself included, ask for God's forgiveness, yet struggle to forgive themselves. How can we even dare to refuse to forgive when someone who is perfect and just in every way chooses to forgive us!?!?
When I consider the behavior of children in ANY culture, I'm always reminded of Jesus' words in Mark 10:14-15 "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Children are usually instinctively trusting.
The faith and confidence little children so freely give is exactly what Jesus asks for as our Savior and Lord.
My prayer is to have childlike faith, to have single-minded devotion to my worthy God, to repent to my Lord and forgive myself with the understanding that God has forgiven me, to run to meet my Savior each morning and let Him guide me through each day. All because, I my childlike faith leads me to steadfast faith and trust in Him.
