What’s the difference between being childlike and childish?
One gets higher marks than the other. We seem to speak warmly of childlike wonder, trust, and innocence while being less approving of those who are childishly impatient, demanding, and self-centered.
According to the New Testament, God became a child who, upon becoming a man, overheard the childish rivalry of his disciples, and reminded them that only by becoming like a child can we enter the kingdom of God. (Matt 18:1-5; Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48)
On another occasion, after seeing the wide-eyed wonder of his disciples, the Son thanked his Father for revealing to those who are childlike what he withholds from those who think themselves clever and wise. (Luke 10:16-21).
Have been increasingly realizing that there is a time to think— and a time to stop thinking— when I’ve forgotten that there is only One who really knows what’s happening.
May we never get too old for childlike wonder, curiosity, joy—and to keep praying, “Grant us, O Father, as your children, the presence of mind to wait on you for what you alone can understand, thoughtfulness in whatever you want us to know, and the wisdom to see the difference”.
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