Care

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:26).

Praying in the Garden of Gethesmane (Dirk Walker)

I recently spent some time around my very young nieces and nephews.

They are sweet children and a nice change from teenagers.

One of the most endearing things – in my mind – about children of a certain young age is that they are very unaffected by many things.  For example, they will sing in front of people without being embarrassed.  They will dance in front of people and think that they dancing the most interesting dance.  They will tell stories that go on and on as they make the images in their heads come to life.

Those very young children have not a care in the world.

This is also why they are in need of the most supervision and protection.  It is children of this very young age that can become victims of terrible accidents and misadventures.  Many years ago when my children were in primary school, I heard – from my home – a dreadful screaming.  A woman in that neighbourhood had been unpacking her car – they had recently oved home – and it was a hot summer day.  One of her very young children had climbed into the car and locked themselves in.  They died in that car that day while their mother was inside the house and had not realised that they were missing.  That child had died that day because they did not know that there was danger in that car and that lack of knowledge meant they did not care about the danger.

I pray for that mother and think often of her grief.

And yet, that story and that child reminds me of how God wants us to be.  You see, God is not human parent who might not realise where we are.  God knows everything about me at all times.  There is nowhere for me to hide from God.  There is no way that I can fail to be protected by Him.  And as such, He asks me to be His child so that I do not need to carry any care…

I am asked to abandon myself to God and to trust that He knows if I climb into a car that is dangerous for me.  And I am asked to trust that he can turn all things to the Good.  And I am asked to have no care – no worry.  For just as God feeds the birds of the air who do not reap or sow, how much more does He look after me?

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:26).

And I have been reflecting on that today, for it seems that the secret of faith is being able to have no care because everything – and I mean EVERYTHING – has been entrusted to God Himself…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.