What I love most about children, especially the younger ones, is their total disregard for hate, hypocrisy, prejudice, bitterness, judgementalism and cynicism. It is as if they recognize them for what they are – a waste of time and ultimately harmful.

Children navigate through the world under the power of trust, hope and faith. It is not until they get older that they typically take on the burden of these cement block emotions that drag us down to dark depths. They learn them from us…the adults around them. No matter how many times we teach them to avoid these things it is our actions that teach loudest, clouding our words and lessons.

The irony of course is that they do not pick up these traits because they are in any way attractive…it is, in fact, their very trusting, faith-filled perspectives that lead them into the dark. It is their trust and faith in us – their elders – that teach them that our dark actions must be correct even if they don’t feel right…and so we are emulated and the cycle of corruption continues.

I regret the many times I have likely been responsible for teaching one of these corrupt lessons through my actions. I am, however, thrilled that I can learn from these children and try to trust and have faith despite the bleakness of the world. They give me trust, hope and faith.

“And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” 

Matthew 18:3