Thursday, May 27, 2010

Jesus Loves the Little Children

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them...

Matthew 19:13


I believe with all my heart that Jesus LOVES children. It's no secret to anyone that knows me, I share this particular passion with Jesus. There's something so pure and innocent in them. I love to watch them discover things- the way their eyes light up melts my heart. They have such a look of awe and wonder.

I wish I could tell you I've always had this love for kids. I babysat when I was an adolescent, spent many summers watching children for others. But for many, many years- I couldn't see myself having my own. I used to joke to others about "not wanting those curtain climbers" and I know that now to be pure selfishness on my part. I had a lot of selfish ways growing up, I was pretty self consumed at times. And in my heart, it really wasn't that I didn't want them, -I didn't want to settle down enough to be that responsible for someone else when I wasn't even being responsible for myself.

But praise the Lord- He is good. He stopped me dead in my tracks on my one way road that was leading to self destruction and I hit head on with one of these "yard apes" and my life has never been the same since- thank you Jesus!

This week I had a few situations that have haunted me during the dark hours of the day. It started with a conversation that was taking place and I was NOT ease dropping- they were speaking so loud, everyone around heard. It was a woman that was voicing her very strong opinions against children. She had an evening out with a friend who had brought her small child along and she was NOT happy about it. Some of the things she was stating were so hateful, I finally had to get up and walk away before I swung around and asked her if she'd like to see some pictures of my precious grandchildren.

Secondly, a friend told me of a young girl we both know. This girls name is Kat. Her mother was very abusive and obviously didn't want her. Arrangements were made for her to go and live with a friend. That situation fell through, so the mother asked her daughter if she'd like to go to Chicago for a day of shopping, and of course this young teenager accepted the invitation only to have her mother take her straight to an orphanage, sign her parental rights away and walk out of her life forever.

I couldn't help but recall the day when I might have shared this view and it made me sick to my stomach. I am so thankful that we serve a God that, in His infinite wisdom, chose to give me such a wake up call as He did. I understand that we are all not called to be parents and that's OK-and I am thankful for those that do chose not to have children if they're not going to love and cherish them for the gifts that they are. But I have to be honest, I can NOT imagine my life without mine.

Jesus knew and appreciated the innocence of children, - their way of unconditional love and selflessness mirrored His own. I love to imagine Him pulling them up on his lap and watching them take in all the wonders of the world that was created just for them. I can see Him singing with them and maybe kicking a ball around a dirt filled street. He loved them- He prayed for them.

I'd like to ask you to think of the children in your lives, whether you're a parent or not and please pray for them. Go out of your way to make a child feel special this week. Let them know that God loves them. Regardless of the circumstances around young Kat's life, I'm praying God will put someone in her life down the road that will introduce her to the Greatest Parent there ever will be and she will experience a love that is beyond any other, that she will be able to forgive and trust again. I know God loves her. I know He will watch over her. There are so many unloved and unwanted children- please, let's make a difference in a child's life today!

Julie

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