When a Child Opens Your Heart
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Can a child have influence for God’s Kingdom? Can a child influence our lives?
My mom became pregnant when she was in her forties, and she was not expecting her little bundle of joy. At the time I was a teenager and I was not prepared for the responsibility she put on me to help her care for my baby brother.
This left an impression on me and as a young wife I was a little leery of motherhood. I was in no hurry to jump into being a mother. But my heavenly Father wanted to give me a new perspective.
My brother and his wife had their first-born son, Jeff. He was such a cute little boy with an imagination that melted my heart. He was like a little king in charge of the world. He would demand that a tree move and by his strong imagination you would watch to see if it would. I loved watching him play and take charge of the world around him. It reminded me of God’s first command to Adam and Eve.
“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth’” (Genesis1:28).
Jeff came out of the womb with God’s command written on his heart and it was a joy to watch.
This great little guy changed my heart about having children. His influence turned my desire 100 percent. I don’t believe I have ever told him that or thanked him for the influence he had on my life. Because of his influence I am a mother of three grown children and a grandmother of six.
As much as I am thankful for the influence of Jeff, God gave us the gift of all gifts when He came to us as a baby boy.
I can imagine him telling a tree to move and Mary watching as it did. His authority, His dominion has no end. We are not told much about Him as a child, but I am sure His influence was powerful for all to see.
“But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 19:14).
So, to answer my own questions, God does use children to speak His truths even without their knowledge. He can use a child to melt our hearts and prepare those hearts to reach for Him. Children can touch us with their fearless courage, their contagious laughter, their unbridled joy, and their tender loving hearts.
Children are a gift from the Lord, but when God sent Jesus to us as a baby, His influence changed everything. His influence began the moment He was born and has not stopped one second. Mary was touched, the Shepherds were moved, the Magi were humbled and Herod was afraid.
What influence does Jesus have over your life? How has, His birth, life, death and resurrection affected you? The answers to these questions will determine the direction of all our days and our eternity.
Pray with me:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the wonderful gift of Children. They teach us so much about freedom, joy and love. Help us embrace them with grateful hearts. Father, You sent Jesus to us as a baby. That is a powerful statement of the worth of children. Lord, You changed everything by sending Your Son to us. Just as Your Son was born into our world to save us, we must be born again by accepting His gift of salvation. We praise You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
For encouragement read:
Matthew 1:18-23