The Little One Inside of You

“They were bringing to him little children, that he should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them.

But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to them, ‘Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’

He took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”

(Mark 10:13-16, WEB).

There is a little child inside of you. The little boy, or little girl, of your childhood, is still on the inside of you. Just as the history of the tree becomes its core, in the form of rings that tell its story – that little one is part of the core of who you are.

Sometimes that little one still needs to be held. Sometimes that little voice is asking to be lovingly, gently touched. Sometimes she or he longs to be picked up and blessed.

Jesus asked us to become like little children. This is because He knows that little one is still inside of us. Just like He cherished their coming to Him, He cherishes ours. He wants to hold the little boy, and the little girl. He wants to bless our inner being with belonging. He wants to wrap us up in His love; to make us feel safe and secure.

To welcome the Kingdom like a child means to respond to His invitation to cuddle. It means to crawl up in His lap and be His little one. Sometimes we become like those adults that rebuked those who wanted to bring the little ones. Sometimes we are harsh with our own inner little girl or boy. Sometimes we, like those men of long ago, think Jesus is too busy with matters more important than holding us. But we are wrong.

Jesus speaks urgently right now, just like He did to them: “Let the little ones come to Me. Please don’t keep them back from Me. This is what My Kingdom looks like. You, in My arms.

“Let Me hold you and pour My cherishing into you. In this way, let My Kingdom come in your life, My precious one! Come, be My little one. Come, be safe in My embrace. Come, let Me bless your spirit with belonging. Come, let me envelope you in My tenderness. Sweet, beloved one, come.”

“Most assuredly I tell you, whoever will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it” (Mark 10:15, WEB).

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To you personally, what does it mean to receive the Kingdom of God like a little child?