One of my favorite things about the holidays is seeing the kids. To me and Casey, that’s the funnest part. She has always loved kids, and I had to learn the hard way the value of them after losing our godson. Kids are the future, unless you create or do something worth remembering, they’ll be who remember you.
Not just the ones in your family either, you can be a role model to other kids. I see teenagers who emulate their class pastors to such a degree that I thought they were related.
I have a hard time telling any of the kids in my life no when they want attention. If you see after third service one Sunday, the odds are there will be a five-year old boy climbing me like monkey bars. With family, if you find the kids, or a book, you’ll find me or my wife. Most likely roughhousing—which used to be easier—or just sitting quietly with them. Which is the greatest.
Jesus and Kids
Jesus highly valued kids. When the disciples tried to keep them away in Mark 10:13 he was indignant and hurt that they thought the kids were bothersome. He told them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Then, unlike a politician looking or a photo-op or seeing it as an obligation, he took each child, individually, into his arms and blessed them. It didn’t matter how long it took, he made time for them.
They were examples of how the disciples should be (Matthew 18:3-4). It was with a little boy’s small lunch that he fed over 5,000 people (John 6:9-10). Here’s the kicker:
He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Mark 9:36-37
What if you don’t welcome a child? Let that sink in.
Kids are that important.
A Ronin's Journey 