The wonderful selfishness of kids

I'm reading A Praying Life by Paul Miller. I just got to an example of how we need to pray like little children in a way I never thought of before. Here's a passage:

Little children never get frozen by their selfishness. Like the disciples, they come just as they are, totally self-absorbed. They seldom get it right. As parents or friends, we know all that. In fact, we are delighted (most of the time!) to find out what is on their little hearts. We don't scold them for being self-absorbed or fearful. That is just who they are.

That's certainly how Jill and I responded to [our daughter] Kim. We were uncertain whether she would ever be able to walk, so when she took her first step at three years old, we didn't say, "Kim that was all very well and good, but you are two years late. You have a lot of catching up to do, including long-range walking, not to mention running, skipping, and jumping." We screamed; we yelled; we jumped up and down. The family came rushing in to find out what had happened. Cameras came out, and Kim repeated her triumph. It was awesome.

This is the gospel, the welcoming heart of God. God also cheers when we come to him with our wobbling, unsteady prayers....So instead of being paralyzed by who you are, begin with who you are. That's how the gospel works. God begins with you.