Three years ago I finally became an aunt. And as I watch my nephews grow and learn, I am amazed at the way a child looks at the world. They learn quickly and absorb everything around them. They mimic the examples of those they interact with. And they love freely.
The Savior said that we should be as little children. In Matthew 18:3 we read, “Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” I think the Savior was highlighting that children are innocent, humble, and quick to learn. They do not yet have all the callouses of life and are not judgmental of each other. They are confident and secure in who they are. But as we grow up all that seems to change. We start to worry about whether we are wearing the right clothes. We compare ourselves to our peers and a sort of clique system emerges. Little children are open and loving without judgment or reservation. How much better would the world be if we were more like we used to be when we were children?
Perhaps we would be less hurtful to one another. We would be more forgiving, more open to hear what someone has to say, and more quick to reach out a helping hand. We would be more optimistic and maybe closer to the spirit and to the Lord. There’s a new DVD I recently saw called “Little Voices: The Life of Jesus Christ.” Children tell stories from the life of the Savior while showing pictures they have drawn of the story they are telling. It is not only cute, but touching. Their understanding is different than ours, but amazingly profound as well. Jesus loved the little children and set them before us as an example. Maybe the next time you get to spend time with a child, take a moment and watch them and you may learn just as much from their example as they do from yours.