“Papa (Daddy), please fix this!”, my four-year old nephew sweetly asked my brother while handing him his broken toy.

My brother and I were discussing something important at that time.  After a while, it was his one and a half-year old daughter who was handing him her toy balloon, asking him to fill it with air, so she can play with it. But even before we could even attempt to resume our discussion, his eldest cut in again politely, excusing himself first before popping a question about the puzzle he was trying to solve.

Can you imagine how it is like to manage a serious discussion with these little, adorable creatures interrupting all the time?

Although most people would think no experience could be as annoying, I saw it differently: I just loved that moment.

My brother was telling me that just like other kids, his children are so used to getting their parents’ attention every time they need assistance. Innocent as they are, they know that only Papa (or Mama) can solve what they consider as earth-shaking problems (yes, like broken toys).

Many times he would find a lot of stuff on his table when he arrives home from work. His kids know that it is his place.  They know that whenever they need to have something fixed, they just have to put it on top of Papa’s table, and he would attend to it.  They are certain that when they cannot fix it, Papa can do it.  In their own little minds, they know that all they have to do is give it to Papa, and he will take care of everything.

I just love recalling that scene.

All of us have had our own experience of brokenness—with our relationships, dreams, family experiences, and a lot more.  But unlike these kids, we miss out on the important need to admit our helplessness when all else fails.

We sometimes miss going to our Heavenly Papa’s place and give up our brokenness to Him.

Maybe because of too-many adult concerns, we forget to give up the problems beyond our control. We stubbornly persist with our ways, as we try to solve our problems by relying solely on our own human capacity.

I hope that just like these little tots, may we be able to regain our child-like faith. And in our child-like mind,  may we be reminded that when things aren’t going well, all we have to do is “put every thing on top of the table” and leave Someone, who knows so much better than we do, to take full control.

–Confe