Become like children

Some of you may know that we own a  karate school . My husband and I both teach and my mother in law will assist and cover classes when we need it.  The way we normally work things is I teach the 3-5 yr old class, while my husband and his mom watch our other kids. Then for the next three classes my husband teaches and his mom helps while I keep the kids and take care of any of our customers needs. Occasionally life happens and one of the adults can't make it for one reason or another, so we alter what is done off the mats. One time in particular my mother in law stayed home and kept our 3 youngest with her. Our 5 yr old (Kaylah) takes the kids class. This happens from time to time and she knows that during the other classes she needs to keep herself occupied and not bother us during the class unless truly important.  She does really well most of the time. Currently we have a mom who brings her sons in for our "adult" class (ages 12 and up) and stays to watch. I take the adult class as well, but still try to keep an eye on Kaylah from the mats. While we are doing drills across the mats, I see Kaylah is talking to this mother. As I move across the mats I can catch segments of their conversations. From what I hear they are talking about recipes, or what they like to eat. Considering its about dinner time, I really don't think too much about this at all.   

After my class is over, I am in the changing room gathering my things with Kaylah. She begins to tell me about her talk with "that lady" .... 

"Mom, I told that lady all about Sabbath and what we believe!"  With a raised eyebrow I said " You did? What did you tell her?"  Kaylah replied " I told her what we do".  It's after class and I know she will be leaving soon with her sons. So I head out to see exactly what she said to this mother. I had to find out what they ended up talking about with out sounding like I was interrogating her or that I was trying to "push" our belief on our customers.  So I asked the mom "Did Kaylah talk your ear off?" She replied that she was fine and she really enjoyed talking to her.  She proceeds to tell me "She (pointing at Kaylah) really knows her stuff". "What do you mean?" I asked. She told me that Kaylah had filled her in all about the Sabbath and how we all get together for dinner, then in the morning people come for breakfast and lunch, we read the Bible then we eat dinner alone. The mom said that last part with a little bit of question in her voice. So I just clarified by saying that she doesn't eat alone, and we don't make her eat in the corner or anything. We have other people and families come for Bible study but everyone usually leaves around 4 or so, so its just our family left for dinner.  She chuckles with understanding and says "OH OK".  This opens the door and we start talking a little more about our individual beliefs. 

After the mom leaves with her sons. I went to Kaylah and tell her how proud I am of her for talking about what we believe and doing so well explaining what we do! 

Isn't amazing how the innocence of a child can get through the walls that we as adults put up. She had no reservations whatsoever in sharing what we do or what she believes. This caused me to examine myself, am I this open and willing to share as well? To be honest I wasn't. As I stated earlier I was worried she would think I was pushing my beliefs or something.  I need to learn to be more like my 5 yr old! 

This verse is now a little more clear.....

(Mat 18:3) and said, "Yes! I tell you that unless you change and become like little children, you won't even enter the Kingdom of Heaven!