Kid story- Childlike joy in small things
By Elizabeth Prata
The cafeteria is crowded with first and second graders when I am on duty there. It is full, and it is loud. VERY loud. It has to be, with nearly 200 children talking even at a normal level, trays banging, feet shuffling, and forks tinkling.
There is this first grade boy who is quiet. He doesn’t speak much, and when he does it is in a soft-spoken voice. He is sensitive and artistic. He has a kind heart and loving eyes.
He raised his hand and he had something to say. I came over, expecting him to ask me the usual, like, please open my ketchup packet, or I dropped my fork and I need another. Instead he said,
“I saw birds at my house.”
“What kind of birds did you see?”
“I saw a blue jay!” he said happily. “I saw a robin, and a red bird, and crows.” He looked very pleased about this.
I said, “The red bird is a cardinal.”
“OH! I saw ducks too. We have a pond. And some other birds I forgot.”
“Yes, ducks are birds. What do you like about birds?”
“Birds make me laugh.”
To be touched by the simplicity and beauty of birds singing and flying about a yard is, to me, a response to the Creator in childlike faith.
A childlike faith means that the child sees the wonder of God in all the ways he has revealed Himself as the Bible says. Children intuitively understand the connection of creation to the Creator. I see this every day at school. God says we should all see it.
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20
Even the creation groans for its Creator, but still does what it is supposed to do even thru the curse- bring Him glory. And they do it.
“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;
And the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this? (Job 12:7-8)
The birds of the air know what to do. The stars in the sky know what to do. But even when we know what to do, having been saved, often we do not do it. I need to do more of my job for the Lord, and more of praising Him and bringing Him glory.
