Like every other day he came flying into our home, but on this particular day, there was something a little different. A bit more energy, his smile, extra big, and his excitement, nearly over the top. Shedding his coat, he quickly quizzed me, “Papa Jon, is today tomorrow?” The three-year-old had perplexed me. Is today tomorrow, I asked? With a look like only he can give, he repeated, “yeah, is today tomorrow?” Trying to piece his question together, think like a three-year-old, all of a sudden it hit me. The day before, Carter, my grandson, had asked me about getting out a Hot Wheels race track and I had told him, it was a little late, his mom was coming to pick him up, and maybe we could get it out tomorrow.
Carter had heard my words, evidently held on to them through the night, and came into our home with expectancy. At three he didn’t quite know how to frame his question. He didn’t grasp everything about tomorrow but he was doing his best to communicate what his Papa Jon had told him, that tomorrow he would get to play with his race track. Once I grasped his question, I couldn’t help but smile. I quickly responded with, “yes, absolutely, we’ll get out the race track.”
Carter had taken me at my word, waited all night with anticipation, and came into our house expecting me to do what I said. How could I do anything but make sure he got to play with his race track. But not only did I get out the track, but because of his excitement and expectation, I put new batteries in it, got out every car I could find, and though I had other plans, I settled in on the floor and joined him as he played.
Jesus suggests in Matthew 18:3 that we must adopt a childlike attitude characterized by humility, trust, and forgiveness. It seems that spiritual maturity involves simplicity, dependance on God, and trust in His Word, much like Carter had trusted my words.
What if we all lived with the expectancy of my grandson? What if we approached our Heavenly Father in prayer with questions like Carter, “is today tomorrow?” How would our life change? Instead of prayers filled with formality and doubt, suddenly I believe they would be filled with anticipation. What if we really believed that God would do what He said He would do? Every day would be a day of hope and possibility. Jesus said ask, anything in His name. His Word says he would do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ask or think. How would our life change if we prayed with expectancy?
If we had Carter’s expectancy I believe our zeal, excitement and anticipation for life would go through the roof! Jesus gave us the recipe. He made it simple but we make it difficult. Choose to have Carter (child) like faith, then walk into every day with hope, expectation, and anticipation!