Like a Child

Give me, oh Lord, the heart of a child;
A heart unsullied and free from shrewdness
A heart that leans on You in weakness.
Give me, oh Lord, the heart of a child;
The heart of a child preserves no grudge
It always loves without restriction.
It is not jaded or filled with self-adulation 
The heart of a child will sail through when You judge.
Poem by Edith Ugochi Ohaja,2016
Doodle by Bonita,2024

    Sometime in February my niece drew this picture. We were side to side, looking at something to our left which I still have to figure out what. I have been living away from the family for almost eight years now, I go home occasionally on weekends or during holidays. Most of the time, my reason for going home is so I can spend some time with my niece, whom I gave the nickname "Bonita", which meant pretty, or nice in Spanish. However, it's not the reason I gave her the namesake; her birthday falls on a national holiday in the Philippines - Bonifacio Day. Thank heavens her mother strongly forbode my idea naming her Bonifacia or Boni. She would have faced a lifetime of bullying thanks to her aunt, if you know what I mean.

    I have read and learned everywhere that a bond between an aunt and 1st born niece is special. I experienced it with my own aunts, but it was nothing compared when I felt it myself.

There is something with their innocence - their eyes looking at you with amazement, pride, and beauty. They treat you as their hero, their role model, and their protector against evil; their trust is entirely yours, and their love unconditionally given.

    Honestly, I wish I can be a child once more in this mortal world- so I can still have the eyes looking at the world with amazement, to have eyes searching for pride in the mundane, and to have an eye for beauty beyond the surface. For now, I am calmed with the fact that I am still a child at heart - relying on the creator as my hero, role model, and protector. I put my trust entirely on Him, and He gives me the strength to forgive and love unconditionally.

"And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them". - Mark 10:13-16