REMAIN CHILDREN by Robert Soto

REMAIN CHILDREN by Robert Soto

February 28, 2010

Matthew 18:4 "Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

I sometimes sit and just observe my grandson. For him, life is nothing but playing, sleeping, and eating when he is hungry. I must also add music, singing and dancing. He seems to have grasped an early childhood desire to be a drummer, both on the Indian drum and modern drumming. But his world is so simple. I love to sit there and observe the simplicity of his mind. I love the way he uses the simplicity of life to figure out problems. I love the way he stalks our poor kitties. They do not have a chance with an Apache stalker. He loves to run, play basketball, and observe Indian dancing videos to figure out those difficult moves the adult feather dancers do. He then tries his hardest to interpret the moves and steps as they do.

My grandson is now three years and four months old. He knows what he knows, because of the people that influence him the most. But the simple mind of a child is so important. It is something we lose as we grow up. Sometimes that is a good thing because we are all expected to grow up. But other times we need to have the heart and mind of a child and not make life so complicated with its rules and regulations. When we allow such things to take over our whole lives, life seems to lose in simplicity and fun. It is like Jesus said, "Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Greatness comes when we let the simple things of life control us and not make life more complicated than it is. We need to retain a childlike humility and character that is always eager to learn and grow.

Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:

McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church