A penny for my thoughts?

Whenever I spend time with this little gal, I can't help but study her! Although she may be almost three she already has a personality of her own! And she makes me miss those good old days when my only problem way being someone else's problem! 

Not only do I witness first hand what Christ meant when He said: "14...Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”Mark 10:14-15(NIV)

Children are just so innocent and joyful and are able to put their trust in you completely!.. but first they need to get to know you haha!

My little friends name is Angela. And just like my Child Development class warned, being a toddler, she is very egocentric! Egocentric definition would be: "One is 100% focused on themselves; See's the world only through their own experiences".

This doesn't mean that they are completely selfish and rude, just unaware that maybe not everyone benefits from what they benefit from. For example: if Angela got an "owie" on her knee, and after receiving a Band-Aid, felt better, she maybe try giving me one if I got a head ache or something. As she gets older she will learn to realize that not everything can be fixed with a Band-Aid hahaha!

I realize that we, being children of Christ tend to act the same way. when we grow in Christ we start seeing others, and their needs. and that what we benefited from might not help he person. Everyone's walk with God is different. We Christians are egocentric, but with growth, that can go away.

Also we need to receive the kingdom like a child!! We need to be able to trust with no questions! To spend time with Abba, realizing He doesn't expect a lot from us. We are mess-ups, sinners that were saved by His Amazing Grace. By choice we have the ability to bring His name glory, because of the wonderful gift He has given us!

Why is it so hard to understand this concept? I struggle constantly with this idea. Abba doesn't expect us to read the bible. We aren't forced due to the gift of choice. But He delights when we do, when we choose to learn and listen from reading the word. We don't have to pray, yet if we want to grow and learn His heart, that's the only way we can.  Many times I fall into the devil's lie that because I didn't read, I am not good enough. Or because I didn't pray in the morning, I have not right to come to Him with my problems later in the day. And then the next day you feel awful about yesterday, and do the same, and so on...

Abba help me understand that even though you do not expect me to come to You in word and prayer, You still want me to. And even if I don't have to, make me want to!! I want to know Your heart and Your will, just help me find strength in You to let go of my own and put my full trust in You. Help me understand that growth only comes with knowing You. Then I'll be able to know and understand Your other children; my brothers and sisters!

-Abba's Daughter,          Arina Dovgoruk