Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Humble myself as a little child

Today's scripture study: Matthew 18:1-4, the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is he who humbles himself as a little child. 

I was discussing this Sunday with friends, and how I as a parent of 5 young children always laugh when I hear children described as humble.  Kids aren’t saints – oh the pride of the gifted 8 year old who feels herself above her peers! (That was me.  And possibly one of my children.)  My friend Keith (who had taught a Sunday School lesson on this earlier in the day which I had missed) was sharing his desire to really understand why the Savior called a child over and put him in the center of his disciples. What was he really trying to teach? It seemed that as usual the class discussion had only tantalizingly hinted towards a deeper meaning. 

So I searched for more understanding and I discovered a few significant things:

1) In verse 3 it says "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."  The necessity for conversion is mentioned first.  Hmm.  The same pattern is found in Mosiah 3:19 and Moroni 8:10.  Still working on this one – I think Moroni 8:25-26 are significant in showing the process of how conversion/repentance and baptism/becoming a saint through the atonement of Christ lead to the development of childlike humility. 

2) The greek verb translated in this passage to mean humble is Tapeinoō, which means to make/bring low, abase, assign to a lower rank or place.  So, what was the rank/place of children in the time of Christ? I don’t yet know-that’s for another day.  This cultural insight will surely enhance my understanding.

3) Qualities of children the prophets counsel us to emulate are their sincerity in prayer, their unabashedness to speak their minds, and their total trust in their teachers.  In addition, the fundamental simplicity of the Gospel can be understood by children.


(I found these talks using the LDS Scripture Citation Website - all I can say about it is that it's AMAZING.  TRY IT!!! I also have the app on my phone.)

4) Qualities I personally find universal in children – tender hearts and an unquenchable desire to understand. Children feel deeply for others in critical matters.  And have an endless supply of “Why?”


As always, the Lord is blessing me with exactly what I need – I have centered my parenting focus lately on noticing my children’s virtues and good deeds, and acknowledging them.  Continuing to ponder the significance of humbling myself as a little child will surely give me a boost in that respect.  Which is a mercy, because I gotta say, this particular parenting practice is not in my nature.  Yet.    

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