TUESDAY, November 22

Matthew 19:13-22. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”

I recall as a child receiving Sunday School handouts picturing Jesus seated, his arms embracing a little boy on one knee and a little girl on the other. Additional children were hovering nearby, all apparently welcomed by the Master. It was a charming scene, and I got the message: Jesus loved little children, including me.

That’s not a bad message, but something about those pictures bothers me now: all the children were neatly dressed and listening attentively to Jesus, but that’s not how real children behave, at least not all the time. Real children bicker. They can be willful. They shout “No!” and “Mine!” Where are those children in these pictures, and how would Jesus have dealt with them?

Jesus welcomed misbehaving adults and seemed to have a special fondness for those nobody else liked. So I suspect he would have welcomed misbehaving children as well. In fact, if those pictures were intended to show the depth of Jesus’ love, they would have done a better job of it if all the children held in Jesus’ arms had been insufferable brats.

PRAY for the Diocese of Wakefield (York, England)
Ps [120], 121, 122, 123 * 124, 125, 126, [127]; Nahum 1:1-13; 1 Peter 1:13-25

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Jesus And The Children

Nov 22, 2011 at 6:13 am

Written by emeline,

The children looked well-behaved bcause Jesus captured their interests. He was speaking directly to them. He was speaking their language. The fact that He had rebuked the Disciples for trying to send the children away, encouraged the children to want to be in the presence of Someone who welcomed them. May we be like Jesus, always welcoming the children for the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who would be like children, innocent and trusting!

Children

Nov 22, 2011 at 6:43 am

Written by Linda,

Let's face it - those portraits look the way they do because the artist wasn't there to witness the real thing, like the little girl more interested in a bug on a leaf, or the boy bopping his little brother on the head. The joyous thing is, even if they weren't paying attention, Jesus appreciated their honest, trusting approach to Him and to life. May we be like Jesus when it comes to appreciating and loving children, and may we be like Jesus when it comes to loving those who try our patience. I praise Jesus that He loves me even when I misbehave! May my faith grow until my face stays focused on my Savior, and I wholly trust Him with the honest faith of a little child.

Jesus and children

Nov 22, 2011 at 8:19 am

Written by Mary Ellen,

I learn most about Jesus when I get impatient with my six year old daughter - the continuous waiting while she goes from here to there crawling like a dog, or tells two or three stories while she puts on her shoes even though I've told her I am late for work. Occasionally she gets frustrated with me and tells me I'm being mean. It stops me, it makes me think of the near infinite patience and love of Jesus. Her expectation is that I will always be loving, even when she is acting badly. My limitations are exposed, and I understand the vastness of God's love. Lord have mercy.

The wonder of babes

Nov 22, 2011 at 9:26 am

Written by Mary kier,

I became a great Aunt this year . I have been following my great niece's progress through Facebook and occasional vists. That first year she was discovering everything new and amazed, with wide eyed wonder.

I think that sometimes Jesus was referring to this innocent and wonder- filled stage ( before the notice the "I" of their being

...

Nov 22, 2011 at 11:29 am

Written by Steve,

In the presense of God, I have no doubt those children would have been nothing but well behaved. Children are brats because they grow up in the presence of adults who do not have the skills to raise them correctly.

Parenting Skills Needed

Nov 22, 2011 at 12:24 pm

Written by emeline,

I agree with Steve. We need more parents to be aware of their responsibilites of nurturing children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. What we interpret as 'misbehaving" is really children's way of expressing themselves. We become too impatient when children "act their age" forgetting that they are "recycling" our behaviour as children. Let us learn to deal with children as they should be dealt with.

Thanks, Steve!

Poor and hungry and abused...

Nov 22, 2011 at 12:38 pm

Written by Pete,

How about images of some of the starved and beaten and sick children that abound in the poor countries of the world, Haiti for example. Seems to me that these are the ones Jesus would be most concerned for. And it certainly would be an example for us to follow.

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