This week I’ve been reminded again of the wonder of childhood. My two grandsons and I have had a great week catching lightning bugs, playing hide 'seek, and riding bikes (well actually with the younger one, he rides and I push). We’ve played ball, had water gun fights and spent quite a bit of time on Grandpa’s lawn tractor. I’m pretty tired, but it’s been fun.
I heard a great story recently from one of our Wesleyan pastors, Paul Hontz, who lives in Michigan and is also a grandpa. Recently his grandkids came for the weekend and one evening they went out in the back yard and planted doughnuts. They took a handful of Cheerios and spread them around the yard. Grandpa told them that during the night those Cheerios would magically turn into doughnuts. The next morning they took a Krispy Kreme box out back, collected doughnuts from all over the yard and then brought them in for breakfast. It was a miracle! I’m planning on trying this. I just hope the doughnut fairy brings me one with chocolate on top.
Children have such a sense of wonder and imagination that we so often lose as adults. I’ve always been fascinated by Jesus’ declaration that we must become like children if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven. Look at these words in Matthew 18-2-3 He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
I think He means that we must trust like a little child trusts a parent. We must believe the impossible can happen. We must love with pure abandon. And since becoming like a child is required for entering into heaven, I believe heaven is going to be a place of absolute wonder. It will take a child like spirit to really enjoy it. Lightning bugs and butterflies will be everywhere. There will be creeks to wade in, trees to climb and swings that go really high. And who knows? We may wake up every morning to find fresh doughnuts in the yard. After all, remember how God provided the manna for His people in the wilderness?
Have a great week and take time to have some fun.
Barry Papik (Grandpa in Armenian)
I heard a great story recently from one of our Wesleyan pastors, Paul Hontz, who lives in Michigan and is also a grandpa. Recently his grandkids came for the weekend and one evening they went out in the back yard and planted doughnuts. They took a handful of Cheerios and spread them around the yard. Grandpa told them that during the night those Cheerios would magically turn into doughnuts. The next morning they took a Krispy Kreme box out back, collected doughnuts from all over the yard and then brought them in for breakfast. It was a miracle! I’m planning on trying this. I just hope the doughnut fairy brings me one with chocolate on top.
Children have such a sense of wonder and imagination that we so often lose as adults. I’ve always been fascinated by Jesus’ declaration that we must become like children if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven. Look at these words in Matthew 18-2-3 He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
I think He means that we must trust like a little child trusts a parent. We must believe the impossible can happen. We must love with pure abandon. And since becoming like a child is required for entering into heaven, I believe heaven is going to be a place of absolute wonder. It will take a child like spirit to really enjoy it. Lightning bugs and butterflies will be everywhere. There will be creeks to wade in, trees to climb and swings that go really high. And who knows? We may wake up every morning to find fresh doughnuts in the yard. After all, remember how God provided the manna for His people in the wilderness?
Have a great week and take time to have some fun.
Barry Papik (Grandpa in Armenian)
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