For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, \u201cI\u2019m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you\u2019re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God\u2019s kingdom. What\u2019s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it\u2019s the same as receiving me. Matthew 18:2-5 <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Her jubilant dash reminded me of a time years ago, when my sweetie and that same curly-haired child shared a best friend.\u00a0 When Sal\u2019s lifelong bestie moved in, M would often wander two doors down to play with our baby girl.\u00a0 Upon discovering that Sal wasn\u2019t home, M would stay and shadow my husband, assisting in all sorts of tinkering projects.\u00a0 When her parents would come a short while later, they would be shocked that Sal was nowhere in sight and M was happily hanging out with my man.<\/p>\n Daniel quickly brushed away any nonsense about his little buddy being in the way or slowing him down. He cherished the company of a sweet little girl<\/em>.\u00a0 The message was clear: happiness and fulfillment can be found in the unassuming places of the ordinary.<\/p>\n During my ruminating over our homework question, I have thought of all the buzz-word ideas, even thinking of how to use social media to help us find time to fellowship with others. Then, God gently reminded me that lasting bonds are formed in the simplest ways, and he used a childlike spirit to reinforce his message to capture my heart.<\/p>\n The story made simple is this.\u00a0 The parents and grandparents of some dear friends of\u00a0ours and our children moved into the house across the street a few years back.\u00a0 The new neighbors have spent hours updating both the interior and exterior of their home and yard.\u00a0 Daily, the grandpa, D, can be seen outside doing one task or another.\u00a0 Many conversations between our family and these sweet neighbors have taken place on the curb, in the street, or by the mailbox.\u00a0 To the outside world, the scene would be about as interesting as dry toast, but to Sal, a true friendship was blossoming.<\/p>\n Grandpa D is a jokester, and Sal is often caught in his tangled web of shenanigans. After watching her jump rope one day, he asked for her assistance with a most perplexing problem \u2013 his driveway slab was upheaved at a corner.\u00a0 She listened very carefully to his instruction to stand on the corner of the slab and to continue jumping.\u00a0 It took just a little bit before they both erupted into fits of giggles because her slight frame was never going to push in the driveway no matter how many times she jumped up and down.\u00a0 The ordinary moments, God blesses those.<\/p>\n One day we received a call that Grandpa D had taken ill and was being transported to a larger hospital than our local one.\u00a0 Sal was heartbroken, crying for her buddy and lamenting how he just had to get better because he was now the best part of this neighborhood.<\/em> (Her best friend moved across town a while back.)\u00a0 She made sure we sent him \u201clove messages\u201d while he was away. We kept in close contact with his family, but didn\u2019t realize Grandpa D came home from the hospital earlier than expected, while awaiting a surgery date.<\/p>\n Here we were enjoying a quiet family supper, when my sweetie remarked, quite shockingly, that D was in his yard doing some fall clean-up.\u00a0 We were all surprised. One quick glance at Sal told me she could barely contain her excitement.\u00a0 My heart melted as I allowed her to leave the table.\u00a0 She tore out of her chair, bypassed putting on her shoes (even though it was in the low 50\u2019s), and ripped across the street straight into the arms of her neighborhood buddy.<\/p>\n The storm in her heart was calmed as a peace settled on the two of them: one grandpa and one tiny neighbor catching up.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know all the details of their conversation, although I doubt she decided to take him up on his offer to buy a new snow shovel just for her.<\/p>\n The answer to our homework was illuminated watching a ten-year old and her buddy. Instead of looking for grandiose gestures to reach out to others, we learned\u00a0the little stuff matters.<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0Maybe we are working too hard to manufacture fellowship, when God simply wants us to be present here and now in all our relationships, including the one with him.\u00a0 Real connections are made in the ordinary<\/strong><\/em>. A childlike spirit reminded me to stop and\u00a0savor those moments, even while your supper\u2019s getting cold.\u00a0 And for this, we couldn\u2019t be more blessed.<\/p>\n
![\"My](\"https:\/\/kandynolesstevens.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/11\/the-race.jpg\")
<\/a>