Learning from Children

by Dale Harcombe | More from this Blogger

16 Feb 2009 07:20 PM

How often when you've given a gift does the person say,'You shouldn't have?' But have you ever watched children when they receive a gift? They never say that! They don't worry about whether they deserve the gift. They just can't wait to rip open the paper and find out what's inside. I watched my grandchildren doing just this on the weekend. Like children, we need to be willing to receive what God wants to give us.

Yesterday we looked at what God wants us to pray for. But we need to be ready to receive God's gifts when they come. Ephesians 3:19 reminds is that God wants us 'to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.' The next verse reminds us He is able to do, 'exceedingly abundantly beyond all we ask or think,' Ephesians 3:20.

Children are often more ready and willing to receive God's great gifts. They're often more ready to thank God too for a rainbow or seeing a pelican or for a new friend or that their grandparents could visit or for answered prayer. Yes, I've heard all of those.

Adults on the other hand often receive the answer to their prayers and yet fail to praise and thank God for it. They fail to see each day all that God has provided. That's why it is good to have a prayer journal which records our prayers, and then how God answered them. Keeping a prayer journal or gratitude journal reminds of all that God gives us.

David was a great one for taking his requests to God. He was also one for praising God when the answers came, Psalm 18: 1-3, 16-19, 28-36, 43, Psalm 21:22:25 are a few examples. This attitude of praise and rejoicing was also followed by others who wrote the psalms, Psalm 149:3-5. The ides they want to convey is often if you're happy then let God know.

Remember the old children's song 'If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands, etc?' Sounds to me like good advice to follow. Why not make a resolution to accept God's gifts more readily and praise Him with a grateful heart?

Bible verses from the New American Standard versionPlease visit these related blogs

A Six Year Old's Wisdom

What Does God Want us to Pray About?

Keeping Tabs on the Blessings

Learn more about Dale Harcombe

Dale has a passion for books and writing. She writes in various forms, from articles to poetry to fiction for children and adults.

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jemema (5) 17 Feb 2009 12:21 AM

We can learn so much from children. And most of us have the good fortune to get to be closely reacquainted with the magic of childhood twenty or thirty years after we were children. If our children then have children, we get another lesson some years further down the track. It would seem that many parents see the teaching process as a one way street. Parents can also do well to spend more time learning from their children and less time teaching.

Children know a lot more about having a good time than most adults. Children know how to laugh. They don't need much to laugh at. Sometimes they don't need anything at all.

Dale Harcombe (10373) 17 Feb 2009 01:20 PM

Thanks jenema for your comments. I agree. I see the joy, and wisdom at times, of children not only with my grandchildren these days but those my husband and I teach at school.