13 People were bringing children to Jesus so that he would bless them. But the disciples scolded them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he grew angry and said to them, “Allow the children to come to me. Don’t forbid them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people like these children. 15 I assure you that whoever doesn’t welcome God’s kingdom like a child will never enter it.” 16 Then he hugged the children and blessed them.
This past week was our Vacation Bible Camp. Although it didn’t have the large gathering that we usually do for this week nor did we have all the hustle and bustle on our campus, we did have a place that children could come together and be a part of a community and learn about how Jesus showed kindness and love to those that were marginalized in society. I personally find it hard to believe that children were once not noticed and part of the marginalized.
Whether at Sunday School, VBC or mission trips, my experience of working with children has left the impression on me that they are HARD not to notice! Children come with such open hearts and minds. They come without doubt and negativity. Their faith is full of trust. I believe we can learn from children during this pandemic.
What if we were to take these traits that children express so naturally and apply them to our lives in today’s world? What if we approached life with an open heart and mind? Perhaps with open hearts and minds we would be able to encounter less doubt and friction within ourselves and with others. We would be able to live in the moment with acceptance naturally leading us to a more peaceful existence. With an open mind comes adaptability, which opens us to new experiences and those new experiences can help us to experience God in new ways. With an open heart we are able to be on both the receiving and giving end of love. What if we approached life during a pandemic with trust? Trusting that we will get through this and that it won’t always be like this. Trusting that the changes that come from this pandemic will be blessings and trusting that God is beside us right here and right now and we have all that we need. Trusting is living out your faith and removes the fear.
There is much we can learn from children and I am grateful that here at CUMC we see the children as blessings and they are included, supported and loved because that opens the pathway for the learning to begin.
Gracious and loving God you give us all that we need including children who are inquisitive, full of wonder and trust that teach us how to live a more faithful life. Children are one of the many blessings you have given us. Thank you for children. Amen
Grace and peace,
Marty