It's 2022 and consumerism is at an all time high with levels only seemingly going up by the day. Corporations are targeting our youth more and more; just like us, they too believe that 'children are the future' but for them it's their future profit margins. The pandemic has only made things harder as kids, teens and young adults have been forced to study online, giving them more screen time. Ads for almost any product are extremely targeted, very sexualized and social media too has been forcing our youth to grow up much faster than they should be. New agendas surrounding hormone therapy for kids have also started creeping into the mainstream which complicates things to a biological level too.
When Jesus picked up a little child from the crowd and told us to humble ourselves like that child if we want to get into heaven, I strongly believe that He was addressing the humans of the future more than the crowd at that time. He threw us a curveball that made us really take stock of our lives, what's important to us and how we need to prioritize Godly values like innocence, truth telling, humility and the fear of wrong doing, values and behaviors we see in most kids, before they get conditioned by the world and it's cruel ways.
I also think of how kids cling to their parents for safety, comfort, sustenance and general direction for almost anything under the sun; such strong reliance and love is what God wants of us too - He wants us to lean into Him and focus on our relationship with God and how that relationship is the center of everything, not the other way around where we try and find little times during the day to fit God into.
So take a step back, reflect and let your inner child out!
Matthew 18:3-4 - Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."