Little children are just amazing. I've always loved being around them. I've watched them learn to walk, and I've seen the joy and delight in their faces as they play and learn. I've seen how they live in the moment and experience new things with wonder. Jesus used the simple sincerity of a child to describe those in the kingdom of God. A little child is dependent, trusting, needy, and anxious to grow and learn and love. A little child awakening to see a new day doesn't need to look at the clock, check the calendar, or get coffee or the latest news. The little sleepyhead wakes up just trusting that the day will be good.

Matthew 18:2-3 – [Jesus] 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." (NIV)

Many years ago, I learned a simple song to teach a little child. Often, the simplest things are the most profound! It has only four lines, and yet it acknowledges so much of Who God is and who we are.

Good morning, God,
This is Your day,
I am Your child
Show me Your way!
How can a grown-up person who has experienced 80-plus years of life change and become more like a little child? How about setting aside all the accumulated opinions and pride of knowledge and learning and ego-filled assumptions? Add to this list just going back to square one and reviewing the basics.

My pastor encouraged me to begin a simple daily discipline: start my day at the very beginning awareness of the morning by praying the Lord's Prayer deliberately and slowly, meditating on every word. Jesus taught us to pray these words. I'm realizing that the purpose of prayer is not to get what we want, but to learn what God wants. I need to remind myself of Who God is. He is my Father. I am His child. His name is hallowed and holy. I want His kingdom to come, and I want His will to be done here on earth, just the same way that it is done in heaven. I humbly ask for and depend on Him to give me today's bread, and I ask for forgiveness and for His strength to help me to forgive everyone who owes me or who stepped over the line with me. I need to be pulled away from things that are bad for me, and I need powerful protection from the evil powers surrounding me, because the kingdom belongs to our God, Who is all-powerful and full of glory today and forever! Amen.

Dear friends, today is the time to rejoice and be glad like a little child and to realize anew this fact:

Psalm 118:24 – This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (NIV)

Prayer: Our dear heavenly Father, thank You for creating this new day and for giving us the life to live in it. Thank You for re-making us as Your little children and for patiently feeding us, lovingly forgiving us, constantly teaching us, and carefully leading us in the way everlasting. Amen.