Then something unique happened. God started to show me a gift with children I didn't even know I had. Two years later, I have learned so much and am blessed to be in this position. James makes fun of me every time we go out, because I am such a "kid-magnet" he says. But he has truth to his statement. Literally, last week I was just walking into a store, not really paying attention to anything and I looked down and this little girl is starring at me. Before I could smile or do anything in response, she simply waves at me with her free hand and keeps on moving. I don't know if I carry a sign around my neck that has some clever picture drawn that children just automatically cling to me, but there is something that attracts kids to me. (Believe me though, I have had my fair share of kids who wanted nothing to do with me).
Now, I am not trying to brag or say I am some kind of expert with kids, but over these two years and the years prior that I worked with kids, I have concluded that two major things contribute to this reaction from children. And I have learned one valuable lesson that keeps me humbly focused.
The two majors:
1) I notice children. I have always made a joke when new people come into church and I have to ask them their name a second time. I tell them that if they were under four feet tall I would have their name completely memorized by now. But it's true. I work hard at noticing children in a crowd. I try not to bypass them or ignore them. When a child has something to say-it is important. I talk to them at their level and try to give them as much of my attention as I can. I respect them and look them in their eyes. My goal when talking with a child is that they feel loved and valued by the time they leave.
2) I am patient. I know that is a simple statement, but I am sure that any parent who has had an exhausted and hungry child in the middle of a store and had to pass by the toy aisle would agree that it is not that simple. Every week before going into service, I prep myself mentally about how I am going to be patient that day. I pray for a patience that I know I don't have, but that God gives. One time of me being impatient loses an entire trust of a child. Children need patience and a safe environment to learn and if the one in charge is not patience with them, the learning process becomes that much more difficult.
There are other things I do and am aware of when I work with kids, but these are the majors. Because I choose to notice kids and be patient with them, I have been let into their incredible world and learned more than I possibly could imagine and strengthened my faith. Which leads me to the valuable lesson I have learned.
The lesson
See in Matthew 18:3, there is a familiar bible verse that always has tugged at my heart. Jesus is talking with his disciples and they ask him who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and Jesus replies, "... I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven...". A child. These twelve great men stood before the son of God and were told to become like little children. How in the world would one even begin to process being like a child? It's impossible to become a child again and being a child is something society has struggled for years with to make kids grow up faster and not be "little children".
Well to make this pivotal point, I have the perfect example of what I am talking about and what I feel Jesus meant here. Last Friday, I was spending time with my friend and as we were talking about life and faith in God, she shared a story of her nieces from that week. Her nieces are four and three years old. The eldest was sick one day that week and so the youngest did something. She did it without sarcasm. She did it without fear. She did it in all honesty and firm belief that Jesus hears her and cares. She placed her hand on her older sisters head and said, "In Jesus name you're going to get better." She is three and has more faith then I do at times.
We forget to have faith and hope, something we were never meant to do. We stop noticing people and things around us. And children don't. They notice everything we do. It's obvious that my friend's niece has seen someone in her family pray like that, so she is mimicking what she saw. I feel Jesus picked a perfect description to express to his disciples that day, an unforgettable lesson. Become like a little child. Have faith like a little child.
There's a tid-bit for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment