It has been said “a little child shall lead them”. Indeed, it seems that the innocence and wonderment of children lead us right into the heart of Divinity. Jesus said “unless you become as a child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God”. Later on in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul says that the Kingdom of God is not “meat and drink” (rules and regulations) but “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Over the weekend, my husband, son, and I went to an amusement park. After a full day of rides, games, and eating funnel cakes topped with ice cream, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream, night began to fall. In the now-darkened park, we spotted dozens of diamond shaped pendants flashing in brilliant hues of purples, blues, and pinks. Some park employees were selling these scintillating necklaces which either flashed continuously, or could be voice activated.
We bought my son Noah a necklace, and all three of us ohhhed and ahhhhed over this neat trinket—enjoying watching the fluctuating colors modulate to our voices. My son said he wanted to ride the roller coaster yet again so we headed that way.
While we stood in line, our son played with the necklace around his neck. I was enjoying the view of the park’s lighted transformation, as well as the cool night air. My husband and I would talk off and on as we waited for the queue to snake closer to the roller coaster.
I looked down at Noah and he pointed to his necklace, then at a little boy next to him. He and the boy weren’t interacting, that I had noticed. Noah looked at me as if asking a question. I asked “What honey?” Once again, he gestured to his new necklace, and to the boy next to him. I said “Do you want to give your necklace to him as a present?” My son smiled and nodded. I smiled back and nodded with assent.
Gingerly, he took the necklace off his neck, and placed it on the boy next to him. The boy looked surprised, but then began playing with it, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. My son smiled, stepped back, gave me a hug, and continued to patiently wait to ride the roller coater…as if he never owned the necklace in the first place.
An older youth, perhaps a brother, looked at us in surprise. “He’s giving this to him?” he asked me, pointing to the younger boy. “Apparently”, I answered with a smile. My husband and I were in awe of what my son had done, and were quietly talking between ourselves. It was a sacred and profound moment. My son wasn’t looking for approval from anyone, or giving something away because a holy book told him he was supposed to. In fact, after he gave his necklace away, it was as if he never had it. The father turned to me, asking “he doesn’t want this?” and I again answered with a smile “I guess not”.
My husband and I talked about this holy moment, and how society would look if we all were like children—following the lead of Spirit within. Giving without expecting to get, just because we’re moved to do so. Being unattached to material things to the point where giving and receiving were as normal, and painless, as breathing. Choosing to be a blessing because it is our Nature. Having the ability to receive from others with gratitude and grace—not looking for ulterior motives or feeling shame at receiving abundance.
As we neared closer to the roller coaster, just a few feet from the ride, the father of the boy hands me the necklace. He says “He can’t accept this. I’m sorry.” I ask him “Why not?” He kept putting pressure on the child to “tell my son why”, but the boy looked hurt, confused, and upset. We hadn’t noticed what was transpiring with the family because we were talking amongst ourselves. The father finally said “We really appreciate it. We really do. But he just can’t accept it.” I replied, pointing to my son, “it was his choice”. He then replied “Well, what if he gets home and he wishes he didn’t give it away? But thanks anyway.”
So I give the necklace back to my son, he places it around his neck once again. Noah doesn’t act confused or hurt. It’s all so very normal to him, it seems, and he goes back to enjoying the necklace.
My husband and I wondered what kind of lesson this was for the boy, his father, and the rest of their family. That’s between them and God, ultimately. In fact, we don’t even know what contract our son was fulfilling or what lesson his soul was experiencing.
For my husband and me, it was a lesson on innocence, brotherhood, and kindness. It is a reminder that angels walk among us, and are often contained in the guise of a child’s body. Hope and awe bathed our being as we beheld what Divinity looks like in the midst of everyday living. We beheld the everyday sacred at an amusement park, and were witness to one of the heights of which humanity was capable.
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