Upon awaking, his bright eyes come alive with inquisitiveness and fairly dance with mischievous joy.  It is hard for him to sit still for breakfast because wants to be up and out.  It is a new day and there are new things to be learned, new heights to conquer, new friends to make and new joys to experience.  The day for this lad of six is thoroughly filled from morning until night with varied activity.  He learns new words at school, he learns how to catch a ball with a glove, he skins a knee and runs to mother for sympathetic and loving attention, he enjoys teasing his sisters, he waves to passersby, carries on a conversation with his dog, and on and on he goes until finally the day is over, and he closes those loving eyes in slumber.  He lies down at night knowing someone loves and cares, and that he will be there if needed during the night.

What accounts for this immense joy of living?  Would it exist if there were not someone who really loves and cares?  How could this joy exist if there was not food for that hungry stomach, clothing and shelter for that growing body, someone's shoulder to cry on when his little world collapses, in other words an abundance of loving care?  I don't believe it could; certainly not in large measure.

Now let us look at the adult for a moment.  We, like the little child, are assured that God cares for us, that the very hairs of our head are numbered, that a sparrow cannot even fall without attracting the attention of a loving creator.  Furthermore we are assured that God our father cares for us more than all the rest of his creation, and "that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 Yet we see so many who lack a zest for living.  It appears therefore we need something more than the above assurances.

Possibly a key to the situation in one word -- Worry.  That happy lad of six has not learned to worry; he believes his daddy can take care of anything.  The adult in the process of growing up has learned somewhere along the way to worry.  Today men worry themselves sick, and sometimes to an early grave.  We have more persons with ulcers, more neurotics, and emotionally disturbed person persons every year, and many who are not so afflicted are not really enjoying life as they ought.

When Jesus said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Do you suppose he meant more than just believing, repenting, confessing and being baptized?  This is usually what we think of when we hear the term converted.  The term convert means "to change into another state, form or substance; transform." This suggests that one's whole outlook on life should be changed.

If we can realize that God saves, why can we not realize he will sustain, guide and protect his children?  The promises of such abound throughout the Holy Scriptures.  David expressed it so well when he said, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."(Psalm 37:25) Jesus and His apostles expressed it time and time again in such passages as, Matthew 6:33; 7:7-12; 28:19-20; Romans 8:28; Philippians 4:67; 1 Peter 5:7 and many others.  This writer cannot recall one instance in the Bible where New Testament Christians expressed doubt and worry.  Why do we?

Can it be that many of us have not yet learned of God's infinite love and care?  As with the little child, each day should bring us renewed joy, and appreciation for God and man.  Each day should be attacked aggressively for the cause of truth and righteousness.  If we would fill each day with activity for the Lord being motivated by love, knowing that a loving heavenly Father watches over us, would it not give us a greater joy of living?  We will be amazed at ourselves when we fully realize that we can not control everything, that material things offer us no security, that our problems are God's problems and that he will protect and see us through.  When this lesson is learned there will be less worry, more work and a greater joy of living for all of us.