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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