One of the newest members of my congregation is Jeffrey Alexander. He is nine months old. You should know two things about him. First, he loves to cuddle, and second, he can sleep anywhere. He teaches me things about trust.

I've heard lots of sermons about trusting God with one's life. I still have trouble with that. I think that most twenty-first-century people want to be in charge of things and to run their own lives. They may have trouble believing that God is to be trusted, or even have trouble believing in God, period.

Jesus said, "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Luke 12:6-7 NIV) I think that little Alex, as he's called, at nine months, understands this better than I do.

I can be holding him during the fellowship hour, and he will nod off to sleep, right in my arms. He doesn't seem to care that I'm not one of his family. He has all the trust in the universe, as he snuggles in against my shoulder and drops off to sleep. To him, the world is a secure place, filled with loving people who care. He is free from grown-up hang-ups, and he can return that love freely.

Matthew's gospel records that one group of people who were full of grown-up concerns were the twelve disciples. They were asking, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus took a small child, stood him in their midst, and told them, "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:4 NIV)

In time, Alex will learn other things about trust; but for now, let's allow him to help us learn about trust in God's kingdom.

Prayer: Lord, in this busy world, full of so many things that we think are important, help us remember that You do care for us, as a parent cares for a child. Lord, if we became more like children, the better adults we would be! In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.