.

So with some chores to run me and my two year old Caleb took off on our adventure. Before we could get to the grocery store we made a stop off at Whataburger for some coffee, taquito and hash browns. With his plastic horse in one hand and some hash browns in another Caleb went about winning making friends with all he came in contact with.

The retired senior adults having their daily coffee greeted him with open arms and had much to say to him. He had little to say back which is his custom but he did smile and wave a lot. They loved all he did and cared little for me. Don’t get me wrong they were not rude but it was obvious who they wanted to pay attention to.

Then after having all in Whataburger give him much attention it was off to the grocery store. It takes me a little while to shop since I am unfamiliar with the market in the first place and I have a tendency to just drift through the store looking at lots of things I do not need.

As we wandered through the store Caleb, now with his horse in one hand and a bananna in the other continued to win over all who cared to look his way. From the older ladies shopping slowly to the younger folks who were in a little more of a hurry, they all had one thing in common. They acknowledged Caleb.

This only confirms what I have witnessed over the last 21 years and that is if you give me a baby I can reach the world. People just respond to you differently when you’re holding a baby or dealing with a toddler. They are friendlier, they smile more and they talk to you more. Perfect strangers brake down the walls and make contact when if your own your own they never will.

Since we can not always have a young child with us let’s look at what two years old have that we could use in our personalities that might make us more attractive:

• They are innocent. We need a bit of innocence in our lives, yes we are far more tainted by the world but we could nurture more innocence.
• They do not have an agenda. They just want to have fun, they are not looking for anyone to save or to make think like they do, they take life as it comes. People do not trust us often because they wonder what it is we want and often they are right.
• They love the simple things. Caleb just loved being with his dad, he loved playing with his horse while I ate; he loved just riding in the buggy checking out everything in the store. Nothing complicated, just the simple stuff. Why we complicate our lives I will never know. Remember the simpler the better.
• They don’t talk much and no one seems to care. We talk too much and listen to little. Enough said.
• They smile a lot. Once again it does not take much to make them smile, just the simplest of things. Get rid of that sour puss self righteous attitude and smile more, you will be shocked to see how it changes the people around you.

Jesus calls us to reach out to the world around us and He also calls us to be like little children. The two go hand and hand.

Scripture: Matthew 18:3, “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” King James Version

Matthew 18:3-5, “For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again like this child will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.”

Prayer: Dear Lord make us more like you each and every day, and give us a child like faith. In Christ Name, Amen.