Twinkle twinkle little star.....

“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 is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3

My 2-year-old niece, Maddie, reminded me of this verse today. Nana and I have been visiting for the past two days and already Maddie and Eva have brought so much joy into our lives. Maddie is growing up and learning things by the minute. Time moves so quickly that sooner rather than later she is going to be a young lady. But for now she is just a little girl, and a cute one at that.

Back to the verse... Maddie was getting ready for bed the first night and Nana suggested going out and looking at the stars before reading the nightly bedtime story. Of course Maddie thought this was a great idea. She always likes any excuse to go outside and lay on her picnic blanket. So we gathered up the blanket and the tired Maddie and headed out to the back yard. We all laid down side by side and gazed at the stars. We sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and picked which star was "ours" for the night. After all of this we laid there quietly until Nana asked Maddie "Who made the stars?" In her cute voice she said "God and Jesus made the stars Nana." Maddie loved the stars and she was in awe of them. And at that very moment so was I.

There are not many times when I really take time and look at the stars let alone take time away from things like the computer or my cellphone. When my niece answered in her matter of fact tone "God and Jesus made the stars Nana" I was struck with this indescribable awe. God used that little girl to talk to me and show me the importance of admiring his creation and slowing down my life.

Jesus always admire and wanted to be near the young children. They are the ones who are willing to listen and believe what is being said. We lose this naivete in our maturity. While this maturing process helps us discern right from wrong, it also hinders our view of faith. There is nothing wrong with doubting and analyzing our beliefs but we must approach it with the humility of a child because we truly don't know anything. When I look at my faith I want to feel humble like I did sitting next to my niece under the vast night sky of stars.

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Mark 10:14

Mackensey