Be like a child and remain open to faith and positive change

By Gavin Lewis
NOLA Catholic Parenting

A few months ago, Father Ajani Gibson delivered a homily on “Staying in a Child’s Place,” and it has stayed with me ever since. It resonated in part because when he used that phrase to begin his homily, I thought he was going to speak mainly to the children at Mass. I also was intrigued about how some adults in the church, such as myself, would receive it.

Why would an adult need to stay in a child’s place? What was the connection to God’s word and being like a child?

The Bible says (in Proverbs 22:6): “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

What I immediately thought about was my childhood and the many times I was told – or heard others being told – to “stay in a child’s place.”

My memories associated with that phrase were not particularly favorable. It was mainly spoken to me as a child while I was trying to listen to adult conversations or perform adult-like tasks. I often took offense because I felt I was not being respected, that the conversation probably was not that serious or that I “deserved” to hear the conversation, especially if it concerned something I was involved in or knew about.

As Father Ajani began to dive deeper, the connection was made more relevant for me. He was not talking about adults or elders not wanting children to hear or participate in their conversations. 

His message for that Sunday was centered on Matthew 18:3: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

After Mass, when reflecting on the reading and message for the day, I began to think about what “staying in a child’s place” meant for me. I thought about some things that need to change in my life. Am I so stuck in my ways that I do not allow for growth in certain areas of my life? Am I allowing individuals around me to influence my will not to change? Am I the cause of others not wanting to change and stay in a “child’s place”?

Many times as adults we are so stuck in our ways that we do not realize, in actuality, that we get in our own way – our own way of growth, our own way of prosperity, our own way of the blessings that God has in store for us.

If we only took a step back and “stayed in a child’s place” – where we are open and accepting of change while learning and growing in our personal and professional lives – God would ensure that we would not only receive the earthly blessings he has in store for us but, more importantly, the promise of entering the kingdom of heaven.

God does not expect us to be perfect, but he does require that we constantly work to change for the betterment of our faith. Mark 10:15 and Luke 18:17 also give us guidance from God to “stay in a child’s place.”

Are you willing to stay or go back to a “child’s place” where you are open to growth or change?

I challenge everyone reading this to do as I have done and reflect on how you can “stay in a child’s place.” It’s not only for your well-being and assurance to get into the kingdom of God but also for those who mean the most to you.

Gavin C. Lewis Sr., a native of New Orleans, is married and has four young children. He is a graduate of McDonogh 35 Senior High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Holy Cross College and is currently a full-time student on track to earn a doctorate in organizational development. He enjoys reading, traveling with his family, going to sporting events with his son, swimming and playing dress up with his three daughters.