Children are truly God’s gift to us they are the moments that never cease to disappoint. The best way to explain meeting them for the first time is very much like the song, “You’re Hot and You’re cold.” If you ever feel like someone is watching you, it is probably some kid peeking through the gates, indeed being mesmerized by you. They start off hot for you overwhelmed with the joy of being in your presence. They want to see you, and touch you, and know you. Well at least until you begin to approach them, then they squeal sprinting down the road (they become cold). Then, hmm, about 3 minutes later they come running back giggling and laughing determined to come up to you this time… only now they have brought back up (about 10 other children). And all of them are smiling, giggling, flashing their pearly whites, and talking about the mzungu amongst each other, debating who is brave enough to come to us first.
All you want to do is hug them forever, give them all they need and more; it is an overwhelming feeling. You mirror some sort of Grinch image where your heart swells and seems almost too big for your chest. They want you too though, they are hot for you in that moment, but when the moment becomes real, becomes tangible… they run.
Of course it is a matter of minutes before they return again with triumphant strides and determined expressions on every face smiling at what lies ahead. They are hot again, but as the moment draws nearer to meet you so does their fear of the unknown and they grow cold. Until one brave child takes a leap of faith and introduces them self. Once all the children see the joy fruited from their leap of faith they join as well. They become hot and are sustained by the joy of what they now know.
If were being brutally honest with ourselves I think this is often how we treat God. As much as we would like to believe we are the one who takes the first leap of faith, we are more often than not the ones running in fear of the unknown, wasting time. While God stands there arms open wide anticipating the moment when he can pour out his love on us and become part of our giggles, squeals, tears, and smiles. If you find yourself in this predicament I encourage you today to take the leap of faith and see what God has in store for you, because he wants nothing more than just you.
