Sofa Jumping

A week or so ago, I was lying on the floor in front of our sofa. My two year old was on the sofa standing up. He came close to the edge and I helped him jump off and flip in there while holding his waist. He laughed and went back to playing. I went back to watching the TV. A moment later I see a toddler flying through the air so I quickly reacted to catch him and brought him down to the ground with a flip again. He continued to do it over and over. We did it several more times, before I finally told him he had to stop. Each time, he would just boldly jump, and though I couldn’t always see what part of the sofa he was choosing to jump from, I would jerk around every which way to catch him.

Mark 10:13-16
13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Just as my son trusted me continually we must trust God. He knew his dad held him once and he knew that meant his dad would always hold him. I believe this is what Jesus was talking about, when he said we must have childlike faith. But instead, what often happens with us is that we see God work in one area of our life, or help resolve one situation, but when the next one comes up, we go back to relying on ourselves to get through it. Others think God can forgive us of this sin, but not that one. In one way or another, our trust in him wavers from time to time. But not a child - I bet if I laid down on the floor again, it wouldn’t be long before I saw my boy hurling himself over the edge again.

Sure, climbing down off the sofa is safer, but jumping out into the air seems like a whole lot more fun. God – here I come. WHEEEEE!