Simply Childlike

Can you remember how life was when you were little? For me, life was much simple and carefree.

As we grow older, we tend to lose many traits or qualities often found in children - childlike faith, innocence and simplicity.

Children normally don't question the things we tell them. As we grow older, we tend to become more skeptical, even cynical! We want to understand everything and have all the answers.

Children are not duly bothered about what others think or say about them. They are not concerned about looking "cool" and sophisticated. They just act the way they are - they are just very much themselves! They are generally inquisitive and eager to learn. They are not afraid to ask - and to them, there's no such thing as a stupid question.

As we grow older, many things get in the way of our learning. We tend to become more set in our thinking, more fixed in our ways and our habits ingrained. Often, we have to unlearn the learnt in order to learn new things. In other words, we may need to let go some of our own perception of things, our sense of security, our fears and prejudices.

When God tells us to become like little children, he's not telling us to be childish - but to be childlike in our attitude.

Hence, whether it's learning new things or simply trusting, it pays to adopt a childlike quality - one that is marked by true humility, submission and plain, simple faith!

Pic: Yong En (god-son) when he was just a few months old.