Two year olds have a way of seeing—and saying—things.
For example, our two-year-old grandson, Caleb, comes to our house to color and fold paper “aircranes.” Naturally, we have contests to see how far those “aircranes” will fly.
After his parents told him he could have some Sprite only after he finished drinking a glass of water, Caleb immediately began to guzzle. The water was drizzling down his chin and he was gasping for breath. He stopped a moment and declared with exasperation, “It takes so wong!” (long).
One night playing with his dad, Caleb reached up to feel his pop's rough face and immediately proclaimed, “You have hair crumbs.”
Observing a sunny afternoon, Caleb looked up and said, “Dad, the sun! It’s shining still and it makes me so happy.”
Speaking of sun, recently, his mom bought him a pair of sunglasses. Peering at himself in the mirror, he declared (with a voice full of gusto) “I look like a MAN!”
This weekend, we stayed with the grandkids and early in the morning, two-year old Caleb jumped into bed with us. After a few hugs and snuggles, he poked his index finger in my ear and asked me, “What’s in there?” (My wife assured him it was a hole going from one side of my head to the other). Two-year olds have a way of seeing—and saying—things.
In Matthew 18:3, Jesus makes an astounding statement to His disciples: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
What is it about little children Jesus finds so attractive—so exemplary? With due respect to the commentaries and theologians, I offer this humble answer. One need look no further than the smile on a little boy’s face who is grateful for the sun because it makes him…happy.