Loving like a child in marriage

The Master, even Jesus Christ was once quested.  “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?”  He answered, “I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 18:1-5).  So likewise, except both become like a little child in marriage you shall not have a happy enduring relationship! 

Just as heaven requires child like qualities so does a celestial marriage! 

Other prophets have spoken of these childlike qualities, “ye must become as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father” (Mos. 3:19). 

It may be difficult to equate the feelings and persona of a child to something as serious and mature as the marriage relationship.  Nevertheless, an enduring marriage requires the meekness, the humility, the hope, the vulnerability, the spontaneity, and the simple loving and forgiving nature of a child in order to thrive. 

Being childlike may seem dangerous and naïve, silly and trite, but is it that much of a stretch to consider the each of us has a struggling child within?  Either trying to find its way out, or trap hiding scared.  Think about when you are at your worst, when things are bad, and the future is grim.  Isn’t there a part of you that regresses, acts out, and throws a temper tantrum?  Don’t each of us have a raging little Chuckie embittered and hurt who wants to react in unconscious rage to hurt when we have been hurt; to scream and tirade when the will of the universe is conflict with our own?

You know the times when you yell, the time when you cry, the times when you pout and quit, or the times when you feel small, powerless, and defeated?  Yes each of us have a vulnerable little child hurt and trapped, anxious and eager, for love, attention, and approval. 

The opportunity and invitation of the Lord is clear.  We must be as a child. 

We MUST taken on, or let out, the child within.  We must do as the Lord suggest, “become like little children.” 

We must rise up, and act with the innocents and imagination. We must take the curiosity, will, and creativity from the child within and put it to work.  The bruises and wounds sustained in a mortal life often need nothing more than a kiss and a kind word to heal.  Sometimes the perceived boogie men in the closet are nothing more than a shadow in the dark and doubtful corners of our mind.

We can recognize this and act from a place of power and experience.  Allowing the wisdom from our wounds to info the boundaries we must make to protect the vulnerability of the child within, not shut it in and lock it up never too feel the excitement and adventure of the day dawn. 

We must not over compromise with the logic of an aged mind neglecting the child within, but balance the experience of age and spontaneity of youth.  Rather, let us go forward in united determination; one of innocents and knowledge.  Taking steps toward a life of promised prosperity and joy with the exuberance and elation of the beginners mind.  We must dare to dream, and dream big.

In marriage let the child out to play.  You must be inquisitive and open.  You must be forgiving.   You must be vulnerable and meek to be heard and understood.  You must have a mind to trust and believe in possibilities.    

I cannot stress enough the importance of the childlike mind to imagine and create with hope the expectation of something magnificent.  This is required, as the Lord states, for a joyful end.  You have to conceive if you are to create it.  “For as a man [or child] thinketh in his heart so is he.”