The last several months Kristy has been taking Kenadie to the weekly story hour at our public library. And while I have been with them to other activities I had been able to avoid the conglomeration of kids at story hour…until this past Tuesday.
You see, this past Tuesday Kristy was working up at the church building decorating for Vacation Bible School so I took Kenadie to the library. But I was really nervous. Why? Because among many of my other faults sometimes I can be very impatient when I’m around people, young or old alike, who do not know how to act. Kristy had told me that since school was out it was not uncommon to for there to be upwards of 75 kids there for story hour, and some of them were not being controlled very well by their parents. Stuff like that can get to me pretty quick. As a child I was always made to behave and now as a parent I do my best to make my daughter behave. When I’m around children whose parents let them do anything they want I can get pretty hot.
So we went, but interestingly it wasn’t as bad as I was afraid it would be. The little disorder that existed while we were there didn’t come from unruly children with inattentive parents; it came from children being children. It came from their natural innocence. It was a natural exuberance for life that many times we lose as we get older. There was an overwhelming level of energy that simply could not be contained – it had to be unleashed. But most of all it came from their humility.
Being around all of those young children I could not help but be reminded of a conversation that took place in Matthew 18:
“At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and he said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (vs. 1-4).
The problem with the disciples’ question in Matthew 18 was that they were seeking greatness. They wanted a ready-made formula that would propel them to the front of the pack and make them something great. But Jesus’ point was that the greatest Christians would not be those seeking greatness. It would be those who were simply seeking to serve.
Sometimes we lose sight of our true purpose as Christians. We get caught up comparing ourselves to others and measuring ourselves among ourselves as though there is a competitive nature to Christianity (2 Corinthians 10:12ff). Instead we need to remember what Jesus said to the apostles in John 10 – “…but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (vs. 43-45).
As I saw those children listening intently to the story and playing afterward I was reminded that while we sometimes look down on them we need to become them. Jesus exalted them as the epitome to which each Christian is to strive. Sure mentally and physically there is the need to progress beyond our formative years, but when it comes to our spiritual lives we just need to grow up and become children.
-Andy Brewer
In the kingdoms of earth, rich and powerful men (and a few women, but no children) are the greatest. In Jesus’ kingdom of heaven, disciples who humble themselves and become like lowly children are considered great.
That is exactly right and we would be well served to pay more attention to the humility of our children so that we can learn that lesson. Thanks for reading and for your thoughts!
I had the privilege to spend over 20 years of my life in Early Childhood education before health issues forced me to leave the work I loved so much. In those 20+ years, I watched in awe and amazement as children grew up and was honored to share in the process. Each new day brought fascination with learning, eyes wide open at new discoveries and excitement over achievements. Parents would be amazed at what I will carry to my grave about things in their households. Watching and hoping everyday a child with Autism would let me hug him, learning to sign to children with hearing impairments, seeing the world through their eyes everyday brought splendor and wonder into mine. When they said I love you as they left for another school you knew they meant that for they were too innocent not to mean it. There was a reason little children were drawn to Jesus I feel, they saw him for who he was, their vision wasn’t clouded, they didn’t have an agenda. As I interpret the scripture we must have that “child like” faith as we walk with God, we ust see him as a Father who will hold us by his hand and always walk us safely whereever we go. Oh by the way, I finally got that hug from Andy, a child with Autism and as long as I live that will be one of the best days of my life. Thank you for sharing..God Bless