Caught

Toddlers are the most dynamic creatures in the universe. The development that happens between two and three is simply astounding. Vocabulary expands exponentially. Coordination improves with each step. Toddling becomes running and balancing, cruising, timidly at first then zooming on balance bikes, jumping and climbing anything and everything. One thing in particular I’ve noticed is how they mimic our words and actions. While Timothy is saying Da Da Da Da Da, Thomas will repeat his mom’s answer to me very authoritatively. Amelia will order Jake, our Great Dane around with the same voice I use. Poor Jake just looks confused, like he’s in trouble.  

What I’ve been most thankful for is the way the two older grands are adopting some of our better habits at home and in public. Thomas and Amelia compete to clear the table of trash or recycling. Sometimes a habit I don’t realize I have surfaces in their play or in real time, like Thomas replacing items on shelves that have been knocked to the floor or misplaced along an aisle. I was most proud as we were gathering our things to leave Broadway Bagels, one of our local favorites, and the toddlers ran to the counter together to say thank you for our breakfast.

Sometimes it’s more ordinary like Amelia reaching for a towel for wiping up pretend spills, or rocking, feeding, bathing and diapering her baby doll while her mom cares for Ezra. Children learn more from our example, intentionally and unintentionally, than we realize so I was not surprised when I heard Dr. David Thomas in an interview with Ginny Yurich on her 1000 Hours Outside Podcast* saying, “More is caught than taught.” We’re extremely concerned this time of year about spreading germs. We should be even more careful about the habits we’re passing on to the next generation.

“At that time the disciples came to ask Jesus, “Who is considered to be the greatest in heaven’s kingdom realm?” 

Maybe we’d like think we’re less power hungry than the first disciples but take a close look at your checkbook and your calendar before jumping to any conclusions. We all prefer to be giving orders than taking them. We admire strength and look with disdain on what we perceive as weakness, but God’s strength shows up best in weakness. (II Corinthians 12:9-10)

“Jesus called a little one to his side and said to them, “Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable like a little child , you will never be able to enter in. 

Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this little child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm. 

And if you tenderly care for this little one on my behalf, you are tenderly caring for me. 

But if anyone abuses one of these little ones who believes in me, it would be better for him to have a heavy boulder tied around his neck and be hurled into the deepest sea than to face the punishment he deserves! 

Misery will come to the one who lures people away into sin. 

Troubles and obstacles to your faith are inevitable, but great devastation will come to the one guilty of causing others to stumble!”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭TPT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1849/mat.18.1-7.TPT

On another occasion, Jesus reprimanded His disciples for sending away parents seeking His blessing for their children. The disciples saw a disruption of more  important work. Jesus saw what the Father sees when He looks at us. He saw their hearts. The Bible spells out the motive of the parents in bringing their children to Jesus. Scripture should both challenge and comfort us here. May we always seek God’s blessing for our children, no matter their age, and may our hearts remain humble and teachable regardless of ours. May we find comfort in knowing we will not be turned away when we earnestly seek Him. (Jeremiah 29:13)

“Then they brought little children to Jesus so that he would lay his hands on them, bless them, and pray for them. 

But the disciples scolded those who brought the children, saying, “Don’t bother him with this now!” 

Jesus overheard them and said, “I want little children to come to me, so never interfere with them when they want to come, for heaven’s kingdom realm is composed of beloved ones like these! 

Listen to this truth: No one will enter the kingdom realm of heaven unless he becomes like one of these!””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭TPT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1849/mat.19.13-14.TPT

“Learn this well: unless you receive the revelation of the kingdom the same way a little child receives it, you will never be able to enter in.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭17‬ ‭TPT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1849/luk.18.17.TPT

“Don’t you know that God’s kingdom exists for such as these? 

Listen to the truth I speak: Whoever does not open their arms to receive God’s kingdom like a teachable child will never enter it.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭TPT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1849/mrk.10.14-15.TPT

“My son, obey your father’s godly instruction and follow your mother’s life-giving teaching. 

Fill your heart with their advice and let your life be shaped by what they’ve taught you. 

Their wisdom will guide you wherever you go and keep you from bringing harm to yourself. 

Their instruction will whisper to you at every sunrise and direct you through a brand-new day. 

For truth is a bright beam of light shining into every area of your life, instructing and correcting you to discover the ways to godly living.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭TPT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1849/pro.6.20-23.TPT

Caught. The word alone brings up opposing mental images at once. A bird in a trap or a fish in a net. Caught in a lie. Stuck. Trapped. Found out. Also a baseball in a glove. A trapeze artist in a safety net. Held. Secure. Underneath are the everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27) The first thing that crossed your mind may be telling. 

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. 

It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.3.16.NLT

Inside my own perceptions I find my view of God. He is either my Rock, my Shelter, my Fortress, an ever-present Help in times of trouble, or He is not. The fact is, any attempt to dismiss Him finds me under His wrath, separate, isolated, alone, condemned already. My credentials mean nothing to Him. My resume and recommendations won’t save me, unless of course I plead the name of Jesus. Only He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6)

““Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable like a little child , you will never be able to enter in.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭3‬ ‭TPT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1849/mat.18.3.TPT