Today I am going to champion children, the churched and unchurched, the noisy, nosey, never listen sort, that fit very nicely in a seat belt on the way to your church! I hope you will trust my heart, because I am passionate about those local missionaries in your backyard, who shine a light into the darkness so that others, especially the littles, may find their way to everlasting life.
Children the world over are the same. They have dirty hands and faces and they do not care! Washing takes away from time better spent investigating and experiencing surroundings. A child’s imagination and fascination is limitless and fearless. EVERYTHING, including windows, glass doors (no need for push bars, they don’t use them,) drawer pulls, walls, light switches, floors and carpets will be smudged. Get a rag and bring a smile, because the first sign of church decay is the absence of muddy footprints. Someday, these little rapscallions will wash the stains of others, because we served them well.
Children break things. They do not purposely destroy, it is part of the investigative process. How much strain can an object take? And……they believe it can be fixed with any combination of glue, tape, bubble gum, band aids and scissors. Children are not malicious, simply curious. If a broken crayon ruins your day, a new box is less than two dollars at your local retail store. Give me a call and I’ll hook you up. BUT, take heart. They will learn to be patient and gentle as they grow and discover the wonder of serving others, because we taught them well.
Food is a science project. Children long to thoroughly see, smell, touch and then taste everything on the buffet. BUT, one bite is all they want. Please don’t get angry when they are wasteful. The expectation of their discerning palate and appetite might be too high. Love them anyway. They will learn to conserve as they grow and become servants in the Kingdom, because we fed them well.
Children do not tithe, yet, they are the most needy and expensive demographic your congregation will ever support. It’s a mission field! If this frustrates you, take a moment and imagine every church in your town void of youth programs and the support systems they manpower. Then, imagine every child in your neighborhood with a church home, receiving the love that will nurture and empower them to become the Masterpiece their Creator gave His Own Son, for them to be. Someday, they too will tithe, because we invested in them well.
Children learn what they are taught, directly and indirectly. If you want them to be different, then teach them, lead them, love them. They are blank slates with love as their first language. So you should speak it fluently…….… loud and proud. Their future depends on it.
My greatest frustration is negative opinions expressed by people who have no plan to change anything. They just stir the air around them, content to let everyone know they are unhappy. Don’t be a mumbler about today’s youth if your only gift to them is judgement and distain.
I know everyone isn’t called to teach Bible class for Jr. High boys, (the highest calling the in Kingdom!) but support the one who is! Don’t begrudge the sacrifice it takes to show a child, beyond all doubt, that JESUS LOVES THEM, RED AND YELLOW, BLACK AND WHITE, AND YOU DO TOO!
And whoever welcomes one such child in My Name welcomes Me.
Matthew 18:5
I hope you still love me, because I love you.
Gretchen