Nurturing the Child Within: A Journey of Growth and Purpose

As adults, we often get caught up in the tasks, responsibilities, and other things that make life hard. Still, we all have a child inside us who still thinks, wonders, and tries to make sense of the world. Matthew 19:14 (NIV) says, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for such are the keys to the kingdom of heaven." Jesus talks about how important it is to have faith, trust, and innocence like a child in this simple but powerful quote.

What does this teach us? How can we become adults who can do our jobs while still enjoying the wonder that God loves in children?

To begin, we learn to be open and curious about life. As a child sees the world with fresh eyes, so can we. We can choose to see God's world and my plans for us with an open mind. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." We find our mission when we trust God and are willing to follow His lead.

The second thing we are told is to grow in love and kindness. Really, kids are pulled to people who love and care for them. We learn that our real job is to help other people and share God's love as we grow up. We are told to "serve one another humbly in love" in Galatians 5:13. We follow the most important commandments when we serve others: to love God and to love our friends as we love ourselves.

Last but not least, we are told that helping others isn't just big deeds; it's also small, everyday acts of kindness. When I write children's books, I try to make stories that speak to the kid inside all of us and teach lessons of faith, hope, and strength. Any one of us can make a difference in someone else's life with a simple story or a kind word.

The real question is not what we will do when we grow up, but how we will become the people God has called us to be. Who are we going to help? As children, we know that the way to find happiness is to live like Jesus did, with love, faith, and the firm belief that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves.