And He Took Them Up in His Arms

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.  – Mark 10:13-16

Make us enjoy bubbles blown in the wind

and chased after in giggling glee

before they pop and splatter on our faces

Move us to climb the summer night to the rooftop

watching the Perseid meteor shower till dawn’s twilight

with guttural wows and oohs at the sparkling sky streaks

Give us energy for playing in the debris of the world

turning mud into castles and sticks into houses

and we imagine we are kings and queens again

Give us eyes to see an enchanted universe

where every magical dream and foolish hope

are possible and expected and make us giddy with anticipation

Take our sticky adult minds and thin our thick thoughts

until our flowing childhood wonder returns at every cricket

and we are moved by every chocolate kiss and lip kisses, too

until finally you elicit our antediluvian praise

and we sit back in your loving arms and your welcoming chest

and we know very little except that we are and we are in you