Kristen Henderlong

When I was little, my sister and I would play for hours.  I remember constantly saying to her “pretend this happened.. pretend I am your pet cat.. pretend you are the mom, pretend, pretend, pretend.”

At the daycare center I attended, we played outside most days and the swings were my favorite.  My friend and I would swing as high as we possibly could and then sing at the top of our lungs.

Think about when you were a kid.  Remember how just a trip to the park felt like the most amazing and exciting adventure ever?  With that little imagination of yours, the possibilities were endless.  The slide made you feel fast and daring.  The jungle gym was a fort and the monkey bars were the only way to cross the lava underneath.

Those were the days.  When nothing hindered our awe and wonder.

Well here’s the good news— we can still get it back.  It’s not lost.  That little girl or boy lives on inside of you.  And the cherry on top is the fact that God calls us His children… and he actually says to “…become like little children” (Matt. 18:3).

I have touched on this before in my writing because I believe it’s really important—childlike wonder.  It’s a shame we grow up and allow the world to weigh us down.  The problems, the uncertainties, the distractions and evils.  It’s loud out there.

I’d be willing to bet every single individual as an adult has come face to face with their inner child on some occasion.  Baby Kristen comes out when insecurities take over, or anger bubbles out of me; when I am afraid, sick or uncomfortable.

Think about some triggers you have.  I know you have memories of instances where something hit home a little more than you expected; something someone said to you or a look someone gave you.  Maybe it was an environment, a smell or a sound that triggered you.  Before you even realized what was happening, you were reacting emotionally.  That’s your inner child speaking up.  He or she is alerting you, humbling you and reminding you it’s ok to be a child.  It’s ok to feel.

And every child needs a loving parent.  Especially a child who is insecure, uncertain, uncomfortable and afraid… especially a child who’s emotions come out of nowhere and take control.

God doesn’t call us to be like little children as if to pretend we are kids again and pretend everything is amazing and beautiful (fake awe and wonder).  He wants us to be like little children by recognizing our need for Him.  He wants us to know that when we are hurting and scared, we can run to Him.

Our childlike wonder comes back when we embrace the Father… when we run to Him like little children who need comfort, guidance, assurance, healing, redirection, forgiveness, and so much more.  When we are in His arms, His peace makes us free to worship Him with a genuine awestruck-gaze.  When we feel held and secure, the wonder and awe will flow out of us effortlessly.

God is the true, everlasting Father and we get to be His children.  We get to rest in Him.  We get to experience life like a little kid who sees the world as an adventure, but this time it’s not “pretend”– it’s real.

Remember: You are loved.