Through the Eyes of a Child

I love the way children are able to challenge our preconceived ideas and assumptions in such refreshing and disarming ways. I was having a conversation with my two young daughters this week, for instance, about 'the fall' in the garden of Eden. As I spoke, Ruth looked increasingly concerned: "Do we still have snakes like that today..?" Hannah added, our cousin has a snake. I don't like them at all." I responded by explaining that this was a special 1-off case and that Satan disguised himself as a snake in order to trick Eve and get her and Adam to trust and and make friends with him rather than God. "Well, if that was the plan," replied Hannah immediately, "why didn't he disguise himself as a fluffy rabbit?" Good point. God calls us to approach him with childlike simplicity and trust. Children remind us to avoid placing too much confidence in our sophisticated ideas and beliefs and to walk in simple faith instead.