“'One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so He could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.””

Dear First name / Friend, 

 

Good morning! How are you? I know… it’s not Monday today *covers face* but it’s all good.

 

I hope the week has been pleasant for you? It’s been a busy-ish week for me, but I thank God for His strength that has seen me through.

 

As promised-ish, today’s Good Letter is about childlike faith. Today’s letter has been influenced by all my aunty and big cousin duties over the past few weeks. Let me tell you! Children are FUNNY and incredibly HONEST!

👶

Let me start by saying that I’m incredibly grateful to God for the opportunity to spend time with my family and friends over the past four weeks. It’s been nothing short of laughter, joy and full of entertaining moments thanks to my many nieces, nephews, and my little cousins.

 

God has been using these tiny and brilliant humans to teach me about what childlike faith looks like, and He has shown me the kind of approach He’d like us to have towards Him.

 

I’ve been in full Aunty mode, answering the audacious questions of my curious little people; I’ve played with them, I’ve become a make-shift couch perfect for warm snuggles. I’ve laughed at the beauty of their innocence, and I’ve been stern in correcting their mishaps. Yet, by choosing to be intentionally present, God has been deliberately good with teaching me a few things about my relationship with Him.

The main inspiration for this letter was one of my nephews. His boldness caught my attention; he had never met me before, yet he was comfortable enough to ask if I was married (LOL). His five-year-old mind wanted to know the woman that had been introduced to him as “Aunty Layide”. You see, a few weeks after our first encounter, I had gone to visit him and his siblings, and he recognised me, jumping and shouting his greetings as I entered the front door of their house. I had barely entered, and I attempted to take off my shoes when my nephew grabbed my hand. Five-year-olds are strong! I had to lean on the wall to keep myself from falling. My nephew was excited to see me, and he was eager to share and show me his toys and their new dog (much to my displeasure - if you know me, then you know).

 

Finding my balance, I politely asked him to give me a moment to remove my shoes and coat to see everything he wanted to show me. So let’s just say that for the rest of the evening, my lap was his seat.

 

As I marvelled at the interaction, God reminded me of the scripture above. 

 

God wants you and I to approach him with all the excitement of my five-year-old nephew - to be eager to share our “things” with Him, to be comfortable with resting in His lap doing nothing. He wants us to be curious, asking Him questions that’ll help us know Him more. He wants us to jump, joke and play with Him without reservation. An unlimited and unrestricted relationship with God makes it easier for us to trust and have faith in Him. As we grow to trust God, we obey Jesus’ instruction to receive revelation (the truth of His word) as a child would.

 

So, when was the last time you, First name / Friend sat in God’s lap and simply chilled, receiving everything He has to for you?

 

When was the last time you jumped with excitement, eager to share everything with Him?

Some years ago, while in America, I took my little cousins out for a movie. When the movie ended, we walked to the food court to get some lunch and chit-chatted along the way. We talked about the upcoming birthday of the older one, and I asked her what she’d like me to get her. We just so happened to be walking by the Michael Kors store, and with her whole chest, my almost 6-year-old cousin asked for a Michael Kors bag.

 

“What?!” I laughed, “Michael Kors? When I haven’t bought one for myself.”

 

Interestingly, she didn’t point at a bag in the window display - she named the brand in its entirety. So, her request wasn’t a mistake or a product of coincidence - she knew what she was asking for, and she meant it.

 

I continued chuckling at her request because of how unreal and unattainable it was. We eventually made it to the food court, we ate and spoke about other things. When it was time for them to go home, I shared the “joke” with their mum, who had come to pick them up.

 

My cousin isn’t six anymore, and I’m no closer to buying a Michael Kors bag for either of us, but this moment came to mind as I thought about writing this letter.

 

As I replayed the day, God said to me, “You realise your little American didn’t care to know if you could afford the bag? In her innocence and because of how she saw you, she concluded that you were in a position to honour her “outlandish” request.”

 

“Ok…” I replied.

 

God continued, “You realise that this is how I want you to be with Me?”

 

“Ok…” I was starting to see where He was going with this.

 

My cousin didn’t consider her circumstances or believe that the bag was too much for a 6-year-old. She didn’t doubt me. With what she thought she knew of me, my cousin was confident in my ability to get her the bag—if my cousin knew what I could afford, maybe she would have requested something inexpensive. It may have been that nothing but the bag crossed her mind, and this happened to be the perfect opportunity to make her wishes known. Whatever was going through her mind, the fact remains that she asked without hesitation.

 

God wants us to share our desires with Him; He wants to hear our MK-bag-sized requests, and unlike me, God is never shocked at our requests, and He does answer our prayers. But, let me just say that the best position to ask from God is from a place of relationship. Knowing God for real means that His desires become our desires, ensuring that we’re able to pray in accordance with His plans. Without knowing God intimately, we risk asking for things that aren’t in His will for us. A problem.

 

First name / Friend, do you know the One you make your requests? Are you even capable of making “MK-bag-sized” requests, or do you ask for the bare minimum?

 

Most importantly, is that request in His will for you?

I read this short passage repeatedly, looking for something “deep” as per the storyteller I am, but nothing. As I kept reading, I soon noticed something. The Bible says that the disciples told the parents to go away with their children, but in the following line, it says that Jesus called the children to come.

 

Jesus didn’t address the parents per se - instead, He called for the children specifically.

 

Now back in Jesus’ day, women and children were not “considered” much. Women and children weren’t that important and were seen as “highly inconvenient” citizens in those days. Crazy, I know, but that’s what makes Jesus’ call so precious and counter-cultural. 

 

Jesus called for the children. He wanted them to come. 

Jesus called for the children. He considered them.

Jesus called for the children. They were VIPs to him.

 

Jesus did things like this often, calling and being with the disregarded. He is our example of how we’re to treat and love one another.

 

First name / Friend, has anyone ever disregarded you?

 

Have you believed the lie that you’re not important to anyone and somewhat of an inconvenience?

 

Have you been chased away by those who claim to be followers of Jesus and are now afraid to approach Him?

 

Well, here’s some Good News!

Jesus calls for you, specifically.

Jesus calls for you by your name, First name / Friend.

 

So, like my excited nephew and like my confident cousin, answer God when He calls your name and be ready to receive Him with all the faith, trust and hope of a young child. Run into His arms and be comforted, believing that you are a Child of God and as His child, be joyful in knowing Him as your Good Father.

 

Jesus loves the children, and that includes you too, First name / Friend.

P.S. Faithfully share with this letter with someone who needs it. Hit that forward button! ⏩