Thank goodness Jesus didn’t grab a 30 year-old man and say, “Unless you become as one of these, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.”
No, it’s the children he wants us to emulate. Why do you suppose?
Here are some possibilities:
Kids don’t have to be right.
Kids will try anything.
Kids don’t care about their reputations.
Kids don’t care about skin color, nationality, religion or politics.
Kids can make mistakes.
Kids don’t hold grudges.
Kids forgive and forget.
Kids don’t keep score.
Kids can make friends with anybody.
Kids don’t know the value of money.
Kids don’t care what the trends are.
Kids trust, hope, and believe.
“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)
John Fischer The Catch 
Kids take things at face value – faithfully accepting things, “just because”.
Kids are full of awe & wonder.
Kids are naturally loving in spirit – not mean-spirited from life’s failures.
Thanks, Holly. I was hoping people would add to this list. And I didn’t even mention that kids are creative in a way that adults are not because they don’t have restrictions on their imaginations.
John
Ah, John — terrific, and a real conversation-starter, too, I’m betting. I think, however, you forgot one of the most important things that kids do (and re-teach us to do) — they laugh. They laugh many more times per day than do adults. I believe that Jesus had a spectacular sense of humor, and that He and His Father give humor as a gift of all-over healing. Kids remind us to have humor and to laugh as praise to God. May you and Marti enjoy many moments of laughter this day!
Thanks John … I think this gives us one of our basic ‘marching orders’. Do whatever you have to so that you are hanging around kids. As Jesus’ words imply, we will get more from them than we can ever give really. It should not be hard for all of us to look around today and find a “little” application right under our feet.
Yes. I forgot to invite everyone to add to this list, but I expect some will anyway.
John
I’m always in awe of children.
I love that they are usually the ones that can actually see the angels all around us.
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Thanks John,
I was reminded the other day what a great teacher my 13 year old grandson is.
He has faithfully volunteered at a horse haven, cares for rescued horses, for about 8 months. He does things like cleans out stalls, scoops poop, etc. I drop him off and pick him up. I asked him the other day if anyone says thank you. He just looked at me and said, “I don’t do this so someone will say thanks. I do it to make a difference.”