What does it mean?

What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God as a little child? When they were little, my two sons were fearless about some things, in a way that probably caused some of my current gray hair. Kids are not usually anxious. They are not good about limits ? their own or others. They tend to run head-on into life as fast as they can for the joy and thrill of it. Friends? Make as many as you can ? because friends are good. Steal as many hugs and kisses from family as you can because signs of love are important and wonderful. Children live and bask in abundance.

Jesus calls us to join them in their abundance so we too, might know the abundant joy of the kingdom of God that tends to escape us as we age. We can?t open ourselves to God if we close ourselves in fear, if we restrain ourselves from the glory for which God created us.

Our kids will soon be free of the restraints that school days put on them ? not only do we need to join them in their summer freedom, but we need to keep them safe as they run and jump and explore and learn things that school cannot teach them. And at the same time we can learn from them about the kingdom of God.