"He...beholdeth us with ruth and pity as children innocent and unloathful."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 28)
Jesus has such compassion on us in the midst of our ups and downs in life. He knows what it is like to be human. He has felt the things we feel and gone through the challenges of human life just as we have. Just as He understands our elation and contentment and celebration in the good times, He understands our distraught feelings in the midst of our struggles, fears, sorrows, weaknesses, and fallings. He sees us just as we are: little children of God who sometimes fall down and get hurt, sometimes let our big emotions run wild, sometimes feel tired and alone and needing attention. Compared to our big and amazing heavenly Father, we are just little toddlers who barely know anything yet, just learning to live in this world and growing in our understanding of His love and care. Parents don't condemn a little toddler for falling down when trying to walk; parents just pick the child up and give lots of encouragement and love. Our Father in heaven is the same way. He is not blaming, criticizing, rebuking or judging us for our mistakes. He sees us as innocent little kids that need help, love and hugs, not anger, blame or punishment. The way Jesus treated children, pulling them onto His lap to bless them, is a perfect picture of how God is treating all of us, His dear little children, right now! We are so sweet, lovely, simple and genuine to Him. We are innocent in His eyes, with the innocence of a little child playing in the sunshine, happy and carefree, having done nothing wrong at all, with no experience of evil, pure and perfect and beautiful. Can we see ourselves through His eyes today, and see what pure innocent babes we are, held up to be kissed on the cheek by God?
"I lifted him, like a baby, to My cheek..."
Hosea 11:4
A Prayer: Thank You for holding me, Your innocent little child, in Your arms today!