Vibrant Lives

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Inspiration Corner
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Inspiration Corner

Let the Children Come

11/23/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
The gospel text of Matthew 19:13-14, describes parent taking their little children to the man Jesus in order for him to touch the little ones and bless them.  This interaction between Jesus and the children might not have happened as the story states, “the disciples rebuked them (children).” But Jesus stopped the disciples by saying, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” The disciples reflected the first-century ideal where children were to be seen and not heard.  They did not want Jesus to be bothered by children when there were more important things to do such as healing the sick and teaching about obedience to the Law. But Jesus showed  his followers that he did not follow the norm but consistently showed his love for the poor, the widows, the weak, the disenfranchised and even the little children.  He was never too busy to care for the children.

Why does this story matter to me? I have two beautiful granddaughters Chloe and Finley.  Chloe is almost 6-years of age and Finley will soon turn 4-years-old. They are blonde blue-eyed and smart as a whip. Of course I am their Nonna, and I can and will gush about how absolutely brilliant and gorgeous they are to anyone who will listen.  They are individuals with their own personalities, despite the fact they have been raised in the same home with the same parents.  They are unique little people. Chloe is smart and voices her independence loudly. Finley watches and adores her big sister and is learning how to maneuver through life in her own way. When they visit, I am greeted with open arms and glorious smiles because they are happy to see their Nonna. The joy on their faces is completely heartfelt and contagious. In those moments, I feel so special and loved. At this young age, there is no hidden agenda, just love.

As I read the story of Jesus and the children I wondered if he too joined in their playfulness, giggles and opened wide his arms for their hugs.  Did he notice the pride and joy in their parent’s eyes? As they brought their little ones to  Jesus, were they hoping that he would bless the children with a new kind of love and acceptance? I can only imagine as Jesus opened his arms to welcome them, the little kids felt his love without any reservations. These little wonders were so special, Jesus told the disciples that the kingdom of heaven belonged to the children. Yes heaven. Jesus offered a new world in which children were not overlooked but are a very important part of God's family.
 
There is much we can learn from children.  What would happen if adults felt the same freedom to be emotional and open to love and being loved. As adults, our experiences have shaped our views, our personalities, and our emotional and spiritual minds. In many cases our innocence has been replaced with cynicism, fear, self-loathing, anger, and frustrations with some our choices and failures. Some people do not have happy and good memories of their childhoods. They have been betrayed and hurt by adults who did not give them the love they so deserved. I am sure God wept for the lost innocence of these adult children. The Matthew text reminds us that Jesus opens his arms wide to welcome everyone with his love, goodness and mercy.  Just like the little children, he promises, “Do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” which is open to all who want to experience his grace and love as well.

1 Comment
Darla
6/26/2018 12:48:38 pm

Amen

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Denise seeks to empower people to live into their true potential...
                               Read More

    Archives

    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015

    Categories

    All
    Abundance
    Acceptance
    Adapt
    Adult
    Advent
    Adventure
    Alzheimer's
    Angelic
    Angels
    Art
    Attention
    Baby Jesus
    Baptist
    Beauty
    Belief
    Believe
    Belonging
    Be Still
    Betrayed
    Black Lives
    Blessed
    Blessing
    Bold
    Bounty
    Breathe
    Brithday
    Brokenness
    Build Together
    Call
    Captivity
    Caring
    Celebrate
    Challenged
    Champion
    Change
    Chaos
    Children
    Choice
    Christ
    Christ Child
    Christmas
    Church
    Community
    Comparisons
    Compassion
    Confidence
    Courage
    Creating
    Creation
    Creativity
    Crooked Lines
    Cross
    Crowd
    Crown Of Thorns
    Crucifixion
    Darkness
    David
    Dawn
    Decisions
    Delighted
    Denied
    Depression
    Determination
    Detour
    Disciples
    Discovery
    Divine
    Divorce
    Dry Bones
    Easter
    Empowered
    Equality
    Extravagance
    Eyewitness
    Failure
    Faith
    Faithfulness
    Family
    Father
    Fear
    Flame
    Forgiven
    Forgiveness
    Freedom
    Friend
    Fruits Of The Spirit
    Game
    Gift
    Gifts
    Gladiator
    Glorious
    Glory
    God
    God Given Gifts
    God-given Gifts
    God Moments
    God-moments
    God's Glory
    God's Love
    God's Timing
    Grace
    Grateful
    Gratitude
    Greatest
    Greek
    Handiwork
    Healed
    Heart
    Holding Space
    Holidays
    Holy Spirit
    Home
    Honor
    Hope
    Hopelessness
    Humanity
    Humility
    I AM
    Identity
    Imperfection
    Inside
    Isaiah
    Jesus
    Jesus Christ
    Job
    John 3:16
    John The Baptist
    Journey
    Joy
    Judging
    Labels
    Lent
    Light
    Liminal Space
    Lion's Heart
    Listen
    Lonliness
    Lord's Table
    Lost
    Love
    Love One Another
    Manager
    Manger
    Mary
    Matter
    Memorial Day
    Memphis
    Mended
    Mercy
    Messiah
    Messiness
    Ministry
    Mom
    Mothers
    Moving
    Music
    Mystery
    Nations
    Nativity
    Neighbor
    New Beginning
    New Birth
    New Day
    New Year
    Open
    Pain
    Paradise
    Parents
    Partner
    Peace
    Pentecost
    Persistent
    Perspective
    Potter
    Power
    Praise
    Prayer
    Preparing
    Presence
    Promise
    Psalm 23
    Purpose
    Pursuit
    Questions
    Radical
    Radio
    Randomness
    Remember 9/11
    Respect
    Rest
    Restoration
    Resurrection
    Risen
    Running
    Sacred Pit
    Sacrifice
    Salt
    Savior
    Scarsity
    Second Best
    See Others
    Serenity
    Servants
    Sharing
    Shepherd
    Shines
    Sibling
    Simon Of Cyrene
    Son
    Spirit
    Spirit Of God
    Spirit Of Love
    Stone
    Storm
    Storms
    Strength
    Suffering
    Suffering Servant
    Surrender
    Temptation
    Thankful
    Thanks
    Thanksgiving
    The Wall
    Together
    Tomb
    Tower Of Babel
    Traditions
    Transition
    Trauma
    Traveler
    Trinity
    Trust
    Understanding
    Undervalued
    Unfaithful
    Unity
    Unworthy
    Value
    Virus
    Vision
    Voice
    Voiceless
    Waiting
    Wandering
    Water
    Weeps
    Welcome
    Wilderness
    Wind
    Window
    Wisdom
    Woman At The Well
    Women

    RSS Feed

MENU

HOME
BLOG
ABOUT
CONTACT

COPYRIGHT © 2015 VIBRANTLIVES.NET

CONNECT WITH US