As Crystal Bowman drove into the parking lot of Little Angels Preschool on a warm September morning in 1973, she was not smiling.

Preschool was not her plan—she wanted to teach algebra.

After a few weeks she began to hear God whisper, “Trust me. This is what I created you to do. I gave you the gift of storytelling so you can teach these little ones about Me—for to such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” 

Her on-going desire now is to tell little ones that God loves and cares for them very much. 

Through words in picture books, kids’ devotionals, or stories for beginning readers, she is reaching children all over the world with the message of God’s love. It’s a grace to welcome Crystal to the farm’s front porch today…

 

Are children really important in the grand scheme of big and global things?

Jesus thought so.

His disciples tried to shoo them away. Don’t bother the Master. But the Master opened His arms to welcome them and bless them (Matthew 19:14).

When the disciples later quibbled about who would be greatest in the Kingdom, Jesus called a little child over to Him.

He had the child stand among them.

Jesus said, “What I’m about to tell you is true.

You need to change and become like little children. If you don’t, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Anyone who takes the humble position of this child is the most important in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18: 2-4) NIRV.

How do we change to become like little children?
 

Become like little children—innocent, with wide-eyed wonder in awe of God’s created things.

Children pause to gaze at a tiny black spider resting in the center of its perfectly spun geometric silk. They twirl and giggle with tongues outstretched to catch the first snowflake of winter. Children punctuate the end the day by blowing kisses to the moon.

Children celebrate God’s created things.

So I wonder—do we celebrate God’s created things as children do, or do we miss them because of our goal achieving, stress inducing daily to-do lists?

Be in awe of God’s created things. Don’t stop celebrating.

Be in awe of God’s created things. Don’t stop celebrating.

Become like little children who are dependent on someone to provide for their needs.

Our Parent, God the Father, provides for us. From the shoes on our feet and the sweet potatoes on our plate, to the very air that we breathe, we are dependent on our Provider.

Water to quench our thirst, sunshine to warm our faces, husbands and children and grandkids—it’s all from Him. “ Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” James 1:17

But dependence on God is more than needing things. We are dependent on God to care for us, as a parent cares for a child. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

We are dependent on God to comfort us when we are sick or hurt or grieving. “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

So I wonder—have we become too self-sufficient in our do-it-yourself society? Do we ask and thank?

Have we become too self-sufficient in our do-it-yourself society? Do we ask and thank?

Do we receive rest and comfort and healing from the Giver of all things? 

Ask God for whatever you need. Thank Him for providing it all.

Become like little children who trust and believe what you tell them.

Believe without needing an explanation that God is who He says He is.

Believe that the One who parted the Red Sea is still performing miracles on earth this very day.

Believe that the words of God spoken to the prophets and written on scrolls are His words for you and me and everyone who reads them.

“But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.” John 20:31

So I wonder —in our days of instant information and knowledge at the click of a mouse, do we trust and believe God’s Word without question? 

Accept God’s Word as truth.

Become like little children, assuming their humble position.

Because God Himself—Creator of all things, Provider, Healer, and Comforter humbled Himself for us by becoming a child. Jesus Christ, the living Son of the living God left His heavenly throne to enter the world as a Baby Human and sleep in dirty feeding trough for animals.

The shed was filled with animals—

oxen, cows, and sheep.

They stood around the manger

and watched the Savior sleep.

The Word became human and made His home among us.

John 1:14

And when the Christ child became a man, He stretched out His arms to bless little children and welcome them into His kingdom. As He neared the end of His time on earth, He stretched out His arms again—this time on a cross so we could exchange our sins for His righteousness.

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12

So I wonder—are we too proud to humble ourselves and assume the position of a little child? Is it too hard for us to accept a free gift without having to work for it?

Believe the miracle.

Accept the Gift of Forever.

Become a trusting child of God.

Crystal Bowman is a former preschool teacher, author, and speaker. She began writing children’s books in 1993 and has since written more than 70 books for children and 3 for women. She has written books for many popular children’s series, such as Little Blessings, BOZ the Bear, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), and I Can Read! One of her recent books is M Is for Manger.

Travel through the alphabet in M is for Manger – a beautiful rhyming storybook that tells the story of Jesus’ birth. A classic to read to children year after year!

This post was originally published by Ann Voskamp on her blog.