But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” -Luke 18: 16 & 17, NIV
I wish I returned to those days of innocence. I know everyone wishes to return to those days of innocence. Just those carefree days where we wouldn’t have to worry about the rise of basic food staples or low GDP growth. I long for that time when the only thing we actually care about was to eat, play, eat, watch television, eat and eat some more. Everything had glimmer and sheen, full of peace and hope. We didn’t care for violence –we wouldn’t learn what violence meant-, nor about school or driving or looking presentable in front of your peers. Everybody would go gaga on us (and those who didn’t faked it pretty well, but nevertheless, who could ever tell?) because we were cute.
But today, that norm seems to be fading away at a senseless pace.
I am appalled every time I hear machistas haul at their sons to splurge their goodies at everyone, infusing ourselves in shameless double standards that only provoke a chasm between families. I cringe every time I think of a little boy that wastes his days playing Grand Theft Auto, unwittingly opening the door for violence in his life. Younger and younger, they’re getting hooked to porn; their impressionable, little minds are learning about sex the wrong way. We see children in horribly compromising situations that break our poor, little, senseless hearts. They taste drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and all the horrors from Hell below.
And the devil likes that; the devil really likes that.
What are we to do where the only innocence we find today is on newborns and 50’s television-if we don’t count the rampant racism and anti-Communism they were subjected to? Where shall we stand when ruthless philosophies are invading the minds of our children? Has it become too cool to be innocent, pure, clean to the world? Is that much of a price to pay?
For Someone who longs for them, innocence He won’t let go.
He is meek & he is mild,
He became a little child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
-Little Lamb, William Blake