Becoming like little children again

By Bill Fox/Columnist

Ever since I retired, I gradually have gotten into the practice of doing morning exercises. Now those that know me and see my level of physical fitness will know I can’t be talking about physical exercises. Truth be told, every morning, I now do some spiritual exercises. Perhaps it is all a part of being retired, or as some have suggested, being in my declining years, I am “cramming for the finals.” Regardless, I find it a good way to start my day by doing some spiritual readings and light meditation while enjoying my morning coffee. Meditation has many forms and to my way of thinking, simply thinking of family members either immediate or distant and wishing them good health, happiness, holiness (meaning spirituality) every day along with a sprinkle of hilarity is a worthwhile prayer for me. As I often point out, these are my 4Hs…if there wasn’t already a 4H club, I might have started my own.

“Unless you become like little children you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

“…Give me your childlike faith, to see the Face of God in the people and the experiences of my life.”

These are part of two readings I do every morning and this morning I was reflecting on what exactly this meant. I’m sure we all realize that becoming like little children does not mean going back to childhood or become childish.

So what characteristics of a little child are we encouraged to revert back to?

1. Innocence – Some adults connive and scheme out elaborate plans on how to cheat the system. Some of us can be very greedy and would never think of sharing our good luck. One only has to look at 10 billionaires, including Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Elon Musk, etc. who got $53 billion richer in just one week during COVID-19 shutdowns. Bezos’s net worth is now over $200 billion…yet how much does he share with his workers?

2. Simplicity – We adults can make life so complicated but does it need to be so? If children had their way (and many adults too) we would always start dinner off with dessert.

3. Wonder and Fascination – Isn’t it wonderful to watch children as they discover little things like frogs? I know at a family cottage my four sons would sometimes put their sleeping bags down on the deck and look up at the stars and night skies for hours on end. We often miss out or take for granted these wonders.

4. Enthusiasm – Whatever children do they seem to have endless energy. One of my sons we nicknamed, “Mikey, Mikey, Motorcykey” as, like his brothers, he never walked but always ran to whatever interested him.

5. Honesty – Children can be painfully honest. We adults sometimes tell “little white lies” so as not to hurt feelings. Not so little children. “Grandpa, how come you are so fat?” has been heard more than once. Or, “That is an ugly sweater.”

6. Forgiving and Forgetting – If only we adults had the power to forgive and forget like children. Grown-ups keep grudges – children don’t. They can be fighting one minute and best friends the next

7. Trust – Children rely and trust their parents for their basic needs, food, etc.
Do you remember as a child your parent perhaps throwing you up in the air and catching you? Rarely does a child ever cry at the thought of being thrown into the air…they always trusted mom or dad would catch them. Children are curious and they like to take risks. They have lots of courage. They venture out into a world that, for them, can be immense and dangerous and trust their parents to take care of them. For parents and grandparents, this can be a real source of our worry.

8. Content with Little Things – How many of us have bought elaborate items for our children and/or grandchildren only to see they are most interested in playing with the box rather than what was inside?
I hope we all remember to live more like little children and encompass all that this may mean. I’m at bdfox@rogers.com trying to be content with the little things.