I went to teach children art classes on Saturday. The theme of the day is about an animal that’s very slow — sloth.
Among the three classes, there was a little boy who leave a strong impression on me.
A 4-year-old boy who quietly draw his artwork. He was curious about his classmate’s drawing too, but he stay focus on finishing his. So he drew a big house with three persons in it, but having four beds.
“Is that for your brother or sister?” I asked.
He smiled and said it softly, “It’s for the sloth!”
“Where is the sloth?”
“This one.”
The best part?
I saw another two little houses in the big house, “What are these?”
“A pop corn house and an ice cream house for the sloth.” That’s so sweet of him.
A child who grows in love knows what love is.
Throughout the session, he didn’t fight for attention because he knows that, teacher will listen to him when he is ready.
What else? He doesn’t shout or rant, when he needed help, he just raised his hand and wait to be attend. So I went to him, and he asked for help.
In all of the art classes, each child is so different in their temperament and behaviours. Some would try their best in demanding for attention.
They are restless! They will do all sort of things to get what they want.
Thus, the challenge for the educators, when a child is asking for something, must that be granted? Are we discerning to detect and handle them correctly?
Sometimes, I wonder, do we teach them the right things? Do we set good examples for them?
Often, their behaviours are but a mirror of the adults around them. The caretakers have the first hand influence in a child’s life.
James 3: 17-18 NKJV
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
If you are a professing believer, do you live a life that honour God? Are you a child of light that reflect of God’s character?
Or are you restless? Fighting for recognition, attention and affection?
It’s recorded in the Bible, two disciples came to Christ and requested to have the best seats with Christ in heaven. How did Christ responded?
Mark 10:38 NKJV
But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask.”
It’s a simple but hard lesson, do we have a correct view towards ourselves?
Are we like the sons of Zebedee, James and John who thought that we are capable and thus worthy? Do we want more than what God has ordained for us?
Matthew 20:26-28 NKJV
Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Christ died on the cross for the sins that He had never committed. He laid down His life willingly, so that His people may live.
Do we submit ourselves fully unto His perfect love? If we are in the union with Him, isn’t that an amazing blessing?
Salvation is a gift from God, it’s a blessing beyond compare, a blessing that no one else could offer except for Christ Himself.
He gave Himself willingly to redeem His people! The cross is where God’s love and justice meet. Christ didn’t die for the righteous but He came to die for sinners!
None of the apostles are perfect, none of the disciples are perfect, none of His people are perfect.
Other than James and John, we learnt that Peter rashly boasted of his faith but denied Christ three times; or think about Thomas who was doubtful on Christ’s resurrection. Both were so different in their character, strength and weakness, how did Christ dealt with them?
Christ came and asked questions that’s aiming to restore them, to affirm them, and to encourage them to do what’s pleasing in God’s sight.
If you are a follower of Christ, do you care and delight in doing His commands? Or are you busy fighting for recognition and praises from your surroundings?
You might want to quickly deny it, but God knows you better than you do.
If God is your vision, why would you long for man’s empty praise?
If that so, who do you depended on to find assurance and the sense of belonging?
If you know the immensity and the depth of God’s love, you will trust and obey Him.
If you fix your eyes on Christ and His works for you? Do you follow His footsteps?
Or are you comparing with others and thus competing for recognition and attention? Are you discontent?
My dear, you have God’s undivided attention! He is willing to listen and guide you! Pray to Him, may you be found in His love, that’s not an imagination but real and lasting.
Human’s heart is tempted to change whenever a better choice appear. But not God. His love is unconditional, unchanging and unwavering.
What are you chasing about? Is your heart restless?
May you be found the Christ’s love, grace and mercy that bring eternal hope and rest.
Keep a quiet heart, keep a simple life.
