What did Jesus love about children?

Naturally friendly

One of the first that comes to mind is childlikeness. Not childishness. There’s a difference. Childish leans towards self-centered. Child-like embodies all the good things about children, before they are taught otherwise. To be childlike is to be naturally generous, fair, happy, rejoicing in small things, eager to learn, teachable, simple, pure, honest, innocent. Children are good listeners.

And in spiritual healing, I’ve found it’s really important to be a good listener. Listening to the good God who created beauty and life and song. Listening to hear the rhythm of all the goodness of God's universe; watching to see what surprises He is revealing.

There’s that story about two neighbors who lived in the same block, same side of the street, in the same town. One was generally unhappy and complaining about the neighborhood. The other found reasons each day to be cheerful and joyous. It’s about the cup – half empty? Or half full? Same cup, same amount in it. Whether it’s half full or half empty depends on the viewpoint of the viewer.

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“Jesus loved little children
because of their freedom from wrong
and their receptiveness of right.”
Mary Bake Eddy
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If we find joy in our relationship with our Maker, we’re going to see our life-cup much fuller. We'll find ways to share our joy.

And that brings us right back to child-likeness. Discovering the naturalness of goodness, beauty, and delight in everything we do; and then going a step further and attributing this good and this beauty not to happenstance or accident, but to an intelligent and caring Creator. And going one step further, and thanking Him.

As a sales clerk told me recently, “Have a blessed day,” a day of being childlike in the best sense.