Mercy is our youngest, she is 3. The Word tells us in Matthew 18:2-4, "2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." I believe 3 yr olds are a perfect picture of this scripture. They are old enough to recognize their own desires but still too dependent on Momma to follow them for the most part. I will give you a peek into mine and Mercy’s relationship. She has her own ideas, her own opinions, her own "my way" of doing things. But above all that she still longs for "Momma’s way". She wants to play with "Momma’s stuff, and imitate me in everything I do. When I am sitting at the computer she will often sit at a little makeshift computer next to me. She longs to be near to me. Her dream is to sit in my lap for hours and be that close. She loves to have her hands on what my hands are on. But when that isn’t possible she has her hands on the next best thing. If I am on the phone she picks up another phone and pretends to carry on the same type conversation. She will often sit at my feet and play with whatever is handy just to be near to me. But our best time spent together is when we pray. Sometimes she will go off praying for all kinds of things that are good but sometimes I need to lead her back in with just, "Jesus, I love you". When she is tired she loves to rub my cheek, and put her head against my shoulder, or put her cheek to my cheek. I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture. Notice these points. She lives to be near me. She has her own desires but is still fearful sometimes to follow them, she knows to follow what I do is safe. She loves to do what I do. She finds safety in my nearness. When she is weary she knows the best place to be is as close as she can get to me. She is easily brought back to focus when I remind her of the Lord’s love. She believes what I tell her. Now from the other side, Momma’s view, I will tell you my heart melts when she hugs me or says she loves me. And if we are apart for awhile I can get easily teary-eyed by the thought of her pretty face. I know some of you think I have gone off the deep end, and you are right, I lost my mind and my heart a long time ago, exchanging them for the Lord’s mind and heart. Love completely ruins you and I am so glad to be ruined. I love all my children like this, but the youngest is the best example of what I am trying to explain. It is the same as being born again. We start out being at the Lord’s feet constantly, just loving His presence. Doing what He does. But then we get a little bigger and follow our own ideas, not being so afraid. But you know fear is good if it is right. Fearing what can happen when you step outside of His bounds is a good fear. I do believe this is what it means to be "like a child". To be like it was when you were first saved, totally dependent on Him. Sitting at His feet, not caring what the world does around you. Listening for His voice and feeling His heartbeat. I share that for those of you who don’t have a little one at your feet, to give you a picture to hold onto of being a child. I love my children more than I love myself, and yet the Word compares my love and His and calls mine still "evil". Matt 18:9-11 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! His is so much better that mine that in comparison mine doesn’t even look good. Now if I can get teary eyed at the thought of my small daughter’s smile, what does His heart feel when He looks at you?