But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” (Matthew 19:14).

My toddler jumps up and down by the door. “I’m coming to the store!” she announces breathlessly.

I had promised my daughter that, after dinner, I would use some of my birthday money to take her shopping for her very own pair of scissors. She is bursting with excitement.

She chatters happily in the backseat as we drive the few blocks to the office supply store. It is just the two of us – this is a special mommy-daughter date. A sort of rite-of-passage.

We choose her scissors. Blue, because it’s her favourite colour.

When we get home, my daughter carefully selects a piece of construction paper, also blue, and picks up her scissors. She isn’t making anything in particular; she just snips at random. Every few seconds, she turns to me with shining eyes: “I’m cutting paper, Mommy!”

As I watch my toddler, I marvel at the heart of a child – a heart that sees the uncommon in the common, a heart that recognizes beautiful God-given moments in the every day. I’m learning to do the same. My daughter is a good teacher.

New scissors and blue construction paper – these seemingly insignificant things are blessings from the Father. I look upwards with shining eyes: “We’re cutting paper, Daddy!”

It is a moment of pure joy.