Do you ever think about children and what characterizes them? Do you ever wonder about the differences and similarities between you and a child?
I have been caring for children for 12 years of my life. First, I fell in love when Mia was born, my first niece. Then again when my second niece, Rihanna, was born. I dedicated my life to Early Childhood Education in college, a preschool I worked at and at home. You can read books and learn so much theory about children, but nothing comes in comparison to personal experience.
So, what is one of the strongest characteristics of children? Children like being watched.
They don't want you to simply engage with them at times. They want you to know what they are doing, even if you are not an active participant. Children love to be spontaneous and adventurous. They constantly push the boundaries. They check back periodically to see if you're watching, even to test if you sense danger in what they are about to do.
Children love the adults around them, and they know they are loved. They want to be who they are at all times and in all ways. Yet, they know the adults who love them are a big part of their identity.
Why am I talking about children? Because we as Christians are called to be like them.
"And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them" (Mark 10:13-15).
Lately, God has been telling me that He's watching me. He's been watching how I pray, how I worship, how I love others and how I love and care for myself. He's been watching.
I have an audience, and I cannot escape it.
Every time God tells me He's watching me, there is this joy upon me. I cannot help but smile. I forget sometimes He's there, but He is. And He loves me. He loves everything about me.
The sad thing is that sometimes I care more about others watching me than I care about Him watching me. The thought of others watching me stifles the life out of me.
See, I was born to be spontaneous and adventurous with Him. I am to glance at Him to see if He sees the danger in my way when I embark a new task. I have to believe that if I fall, He'll catch me, and if I'm out of place, He'll put me back where I belong.
I wasn't born to worry about how to take care of myself. He'll take care of me. Perhaps I'm not so young and need Him to put the spoon in my mouth, but He is still the one who provides the nourishment. He is my Provider. He is my Father who gives me good and perfect gifts.
We have to ask ourselves if we realize we are being watched. Some of us need to know this because of hidden sins. Some of us need to become aware because of our constant performance for the wrong audience. Regardless of our story, we need to become aware that we are being watched by our loving Father.
So, I want Him to watch me. I want to delight in Him watching me. I want to be the child of a good Father who dances over me. How about you?
