DAY 18...Childlike vs Childish
"What pleases Him most is simple, innocent, childlike love, which cleaves to His heart." - Elder Thaddeus
Yesterday we took a look at how childish it is to look at pornography. However there is a difference between being childish and childlike. There are places in the Bible that instruct us to be like children and other places that tell us not to be like children and to grow up. Is it contradictory? No, but can it be confusing? Yes.
St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways." (1 Corinthians 13:11)
At some point we have to grow up and put away our childish ways. At some point being a kid is not helpful anymore. It is good to grow up. We go from being taken care of, to taking care of ourselves and more responsible for our actions, and beliefs. Just as a baby goes from drinking milk to chewing solids to becoming strong enough as a child and adult to eat meat, so do we have to be able to do so in all things.
But then we read what Christ tells us, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3-4). Now I'm supposed to be like a child?
It is a matter of time and place? Sometimes we're supposed to act like children and sometimes we're not? Not really. What it is, is a matter of the heart.
If you haven't yet seen the first video below, it shows a very confident little girl bust into a very important live video conference with BBC. The second video describes the aftermath.
Yesterday we took a look at how childish it is to look at pornography. However there is a difference between being childish and childlike. There are places in the Bible that instruct us to be like children and other places that tell us not to be like children and to grow up. Is it contradictory? No, but can it be confusing? Yes.
St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways." (1 Corinthians 13:11)
At some point we have to grow up and put away our childish ways. At some point being a kid is not helpful anymore. It is good to grow up. We go from being taken care of, to taking care of ourselves and more responsible for our actions, and beliefs. Just as a baby goes from drinking milk to chewing solids to becoming strong enough as a child and adult to eat meat, so do we have to be able to do so in all things.
But then we read what Christ tells us, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3-4). Now I'm supposed to be like a child?
It is a matter of time and place? Sometimes we're supposed to act like children and sometimes we're not? Not really. What it is, is a matter of the heart.
If you haven't yet seen the first video below, it shows a very confident little girl bust into a very important live video conference with BBC. The second video describes the aftermath.
|
|
|
In the initial viral video, the child approaches the father with all the confidence in the world. In the second video, the grown up displays a grace of that of a grown up who is filled with love and understanding.
Remember when you were a kid? There were certain things you did that you may have gotten in trouble for but, well, you were a kid. It was kind of expected. Remember there were certain people in high school who treated you poorly or perhaps who you treated poorly? Hopefully all parties involved grew up and wouldn't do that today. Those are the immature things we leave behind. The awkward and insecure ways we saw ourselves that led us to treat others poorly. It's time to grow out of that.
But then go back to the things that children do that are remarkable. What are some of the traits that perhaps we're envious of? The complete faith and trust that those around you really do love you and have your best interest in mind. The confidence to, as the video above shows, walk into a room and approach your dad. But now as a grown up we must know at the same time, when it's appropriate to do so. This child did not know how inappropriate the timing was, because she is in fact, a child. These videos are a total collision of grown up world and child world. The best part is how loving the dad is about it, because he, being the grown up, loves the innocent nature of the child and thus can relate and be that too.
Do we have faith in God that He has our best interests in mind? Can we confidently approach him with childLIKE innocence?
This is the tip of the iceberg. Think back to yourself as a little kid, before the awkward middle school years. Perhaps you were shy, but there was a heart in you, hopefully uncorrupted by the world around you. In the Orthodox Church we believe that Children are pure, born with inherent goodness, into a fallen world. Christ reminds us, be like that. "TURN" he tells us, back to that - but with a grown up quality about you.
For Christ also tells us in Matthew 10:16, "Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Wise and innocent, that is the our target landing place. Be a Childlike Grown Up.
Remember when you were a kid? There were certain things you did that you may have gotten in trouble for but, well, you were a kid. It was kind of expected. Remember there were certain people in high school who treated you poorly or perhaps who you treated poorly? Hopefully all parties involved grew up and wouldn't do that today. Those are the immature things we leave behind. The awkward and insecure ways we saw ourselves that led us to treat others poorly. It's time to grow out of that.
But then go back to the things that children do that are remarkable. What are some of the traits that perhaps we're envious of? The complete faith and trust that those around you really do love you and have your best interest in mind. The confidence to, as the video above shows, walk into a room and approach your dad. But now as a grown up we must know at the same time, when it's appropriate to do so. This child did not know how inappropriate the timing was, because she is in fact, a child. These videos are a total collision of grown up world and child world. The best part is how loving the dad is about it, because he, being the grown up, loves the innocent nature of the child and thus can relate and be that too.
Do we have faith in God that He has our best interests in mind? Can we confidently approach him with childLIKE innocence?
This is the tip of the iceberg. Think back to yourself as a little kid, before the awkward middle school years. Perhaps you were shy, but there was a heart in you, hopefully uncorrupted by the world around you. In the Orthodox Church we believe that Children are pure, born with inherent goodness, into a fallen world. Christ reminds us, be like that. "TURN" he tells us, back to that - but with a grown up quality about you.
For Christ also tells us in Matthew 10:16, "Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Wise and innocent, that is the our target landing place. Be a Childlike Grown Up.
Today's Instructions:
A. Pray for the day, for friends, for family, for enemies. Thanksgiving, Requests, Praise.
B. In the Fortify Program, Update the battle tracker. Go to Week 3. Check out, "Does Sexualized Media Affect You?" and "How We Got Here: Things Take Time"
C. Go to the daily readings and read today's Scripture.
D. Journal the following: 1. What are some childlike qualities you want to have? 2. What are some childhood memories that help you be a childlike grown up?
Today's Tips: When the urges come get up. Stop. Breathe. Pray. Call up a childhood friend, or write them a hand written letter and reminisce.
God give you strength. See you tomorrow.
Don't ever come back to this page to start over. This is the launching pad. You've already begun, even if you fall.
If you want to review this page, please do, but do not come back here to start over.