Have you ever asked a child what they want to be when they grow up?  Of course, right?  They usually answer with something like this, firefighter, police officer, teacher, doctor or even princess.  They choose occupations that they see as heroic, cool or magical.  They choose something based on someone they look up to or a dream they have.  Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were a child?  I clearly remember wanting to work at McDonalds as a kid!  I loved going there, I love the play area and I loved how they made me feel when I went there.  I wanted to work there so that I could eat their food all the time & organize the birthday parties.  Remember having birthday parties at McDonalds?  They were so exciting and fun!  Recently, I asked Alivia if I could interview her about what she dreamed of doing when she got older!  Her face lit up and with excitement, she agreed!

I begin with the most basic question, and like her father, I did receive a basic answer.

“What is your name?”

She sings…”Allllliiiiiivvviiiiiia”

Alivia is a very social young girl, and if she isn’t talking she is singing.  She has been this way since day one.  She loves everyone she meets and wants to know everything about them.  She loves to sing, dance and put on shows where ever there is an imaginary stage.  Her sense of humor will surprise you and you may think you are talking to a much older child.  It is as some would say, “she is an old soul,” she has wisdom about people far beyond my understanding and she truly cares for people from the bottom of her heart.  Her faith in Jesus surpassing my own & she is one of the miracles I have witnessed in my lifetime.  That leads us into the next question:

“Do you believe in Jesus?”

“Yeaaaaaaaaa”(still in her singing voice)

“Why?”

“Because I love Him and He died on the cross for us.”

I love how straight forward she is, there is no hesitation, she loves him and this is why!  I go on to ask her about the dreams she has for her life.  She first began with saying she wanted to live in our house forever.  I changed my question and asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up.  She answered saying she wanted to be on the Disney Channel, but not when she grows up, she wants to be on there soon!  And then after that she would like to get married and have 21 kids!  “We will marry lots of times!”, she says!  I couldn’t help but chuckle at that and I quickly went on with the interview!

“How will you reach your dream of being on the Disney Channel”

“I am going to make everyone like me and be like the kids that record themselves on there and do the things they do.”

“Is there anything that might keep you from reaching your dream?”

“nope.”

Don’t you just love kids?  I love how they have no fear, and there is no backup plan.  There is nothing standing in the way of their dream because they believe with their whole heart that it will happen.  God calls us to be like the children, to have childlike faith.  This is what that kind of faith looks like.  And he said:  “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 18:3).  God wants us to enter into the promise land.  He has amazing things awaiting us, we just have to knock down those walls.  Take hold of this faith and believe there is nothing in your way of Gods promise on your life.  You can make those walls crumble with a little bit of faith.  Believe it with your whole heart, have no fear and no back up plan.  “Here is what I am commanding you to do.  Be strong and brave.  Do no be terrified.  Do no lose hope.  I am the Lord your God.  I will be with you everywhere you go.” (Joshua 1:9)  So choose today to make that change from adult-like faith to a childlike faith.  Get rid of the fear and anxiety that life has pressed upon you and bring forth the hope and faith that only comes from God, because when you have God on your side you can do anything.