I was driving into work the other day, earlier than I normally head into my office. I quickly realized that I was coming in while children were waiting for the school bus. There were kids playing at their street corners.
Then I passed a father and two boys waiting at the end of their driveway. The one son was probably 6 years old or so, and he was pacing back and forth while having a conversation with his dad. The other son was probably 3 or 4 years old and he was standing with his back to his father, his right hand over his head to hold his father’s hand.
I started to think to myself, at some point we all grow up and stop leaning on our father. It is very uncomfortable to stand the way that kid was standing, but it was also very natural for him. We all move away and want our autonomy from our parents… “daddy, let me…”
It is probably why when the disciples asked Jesus about entering the kingdom… Jesus used this picture we all knew… “whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (from Matthew 18) If we were like the younger of the two sons with our hand over our heads leaning into our father.
I hope that I would be more uncomfortable and lean into my Father more often, every day… will you join me?
sj
