Innocence

This morning when I dropped Carter off at the nursery, he walked in and some of the other kids came running up to him. “Caahtuh, where’s your cast?” “Are you all better?” The questions kept coming and they were all genuinely happy that Carter’s arm was feeling better. Carter held up his arm and showed it off. Several of them patted him on the head or back and gave him a hug. It was a really sweet moment and I couldn’t help but smile at the sincerity of these sweet boys and girls.

I told David about it later in the car and he asked a really good question. “Why do kids lose their innocence? Why can’t they stay that genuine and caring?” It made me think about how kids really are the epitome of sincerity. Every single one of them was truly happy for Carter. When do kids change? Is there a certain age or is it because of certain events that happen in their lives? It hurts my heart to think that at some point these precious little children will be tainted by the world and lose their innocence.

I guess that’s why Jesus says that unless we change and become like little children, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3). What would our world be like if people didn’t get tainted by the world? What if we genuinely cared for one another? If we honestly showed concern for others just because we love them?

I kind of like the simple world that these kids live in. Wish I could live like that all the time. Oh God, give us childlike hearts!