My daughter jumped into the pool from the edge without a moment’s hesitation, arms wide, because I was standing in the water with my arms open. She did not calculate the risk. She did not consider whether I was strong enough or paying enough attention. She simply trusted the person in front of her and jumped.
Jesus points to that exact posture — unforced, uncalculating trust — as the model for entering His kingdom (Matthew 18:3). I spend so much of my adult faith calculating, hedging, managing my own expectations so I will not be disappointed. My daughter reminded me, without meaning to teach me anything, what it actually looks like to just jump because you trust the One with His arms open.