Becoming like a Little Child

Apr. 8th, 2017

“Growing up is not the problem. Forgetting is.”

One of my all-time favorite children’s books is “The Little Prince,” and in all honesty, I couldn’t tell you quite why. I know that I find the words themselves beautiful, and there’s just so many ideas that are so complex yet so succinct in only the way a child would truly be able to understand. So when I saw that there was an animated adaptation on Netflix, I popped in my earbuds, grabbed my sketchbook, and set to watching it – and they summed up the ideas behind the story in those two little sentences!

If you’re around me often enough, then you may have heard my life goals include never growing up. Not that I have a severe case of “Peter Pan Syndrome,” but what I mean is that things meant for children are so beautiful and fun and wonderful – and I do truly mean wonder-full. It’s why I want to be an illustrator, and why I love the little things – kids are difficult little guys at times, sure, but every time some new wonder comes their way it’s as if it was for the first time again. They are innocent and when they discover the world around them, it is marvelous.

But we do tend to grow up on occasion. We forget to notice the new buds on the trees, we rely heavily on our own abilities, and drown out the world around us because working hard is the only way to make something of yourself in the world. That doesn’t mean, though, that growing up is a bad thing. It’s inevitable, and in this life, we must learn and grow so that we can develop a sound relationship with our Heavenly Father. We therefore must distinguish the difference between literally growing up and figuratively doing so.  We can’t avoid the literal part, but as for the figurative part, it is something we must try to do. We can’t forget what it was like to be a child.

There are several scriptures where the Savior uses the imagery and implications of becoming a little child. Luke 18:17 says, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in nowise enter therein.” Matthew 18:4 states, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as a little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Several times, in the Savior’s visitation to the Nephites, he asks them to “become as a little child,” which is what I really want to focus on.

Often we talk about how children are teachable and humble because they take their parents’ word as gospel, but what about receiving the kingdom of God? I think, based on that description, there is more to it than just being humble. It is being innocent. I don’t think that the children understood the magnitude of the Savior blessing them one by one, but I do think they thought it was a marvelous experience. This is similar to us, being the children of God, not really understanding everything about the kingdom. But was is in store is marvelous and wonderful, and we can’t forget that. It will be beyond our comprehension, but it will be something that gives us peace and happiness and sheer amazement. And we get a crack at trying that out here on earth with the bits of the gospel that we have been given to understand. Do I often marvel at the power of prayer, and what it entails? Do I wonder at the power behind the atonement? Do I stop and pause to look at the simple elements of repentance? Often, I forget. And forgetting is truly a problem. I hope, as I am made aware of this new element to becoming as a child, that I can slow down not just to appreciate budding flowers, but to marvel at everything Heavenly Father’s gospel has given me.