Is there anything quite like Christmas morning with little kids and their childlike joy? The level of energy they bring to the living room is enough to wake up even the most exhausted parents. You know, those of us who barely had time to close an eye after assembling, wrapping, and putting presents under the tree until 3 am.
Who needs coffee? The anticipation our kids have for opening presents is its own caffeine. Followed by the squeals of delight as the most coveted items on their Santa wish list become visual beneath torn wrappings.
Childlike Joy
Such unbridled joy permeates the air with something sweeter than the smell of cinnamon rolls baking in the oven. The infectious mood causes time to stand still, allowing us to breathe a little deeper and experience contentment, even if our world is broken and falling apart around us. Joy tends to still the chaos, fill the heart, and brighten the soul. Thank goodness for the children and their altruistic spreading of such a hope-filled emotion.
What better time to reflect on the power of joy than Christmas when we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Perhaps something even more powerful and profound than we imagined explains why Jesus came into the world 2000 years ago as a child. What if God sent His only son to walk among us as a full-grown adult instead? How would that have changed history?
I’ve pondered these questions in the quiet of my heart recently. While I’m no theologian, I’ve come to believe the symbolic nature of a child Jesus may carry an important lesson about joy. Babies evoke joy in us by their mere presence. The oohs and ahhs continue as we observe children navigate their tiny worlds. Jesus undoubtedly spread the same childlike goodwill during his formative years, bringing joy to everyone around Him.
As an adult, Jesus tells His followers and all of us to become like little children once again if we want to enter the kingdom of Heaven. It seems we need to re-awaken to the joyful spirit of our child-self in order to see the world around us in all its excitement, wonder, and splendor.
