“Let the little children come”

Several years back, I had the great joy of working as a children’s minister in a church. In many ways, it was an incredible job. But it was never one I would call comfortable. From trying to run an adventure camp for a raucous group of preteens (without anyone landing in A&E…) to answering a toddler’s earnest, “Where did God come from?”, there was never a dull moment. But the biggest challenge of all was something deceptively simple: just learning how to have good conversations with kids.

Talking with children can be very unnerving. They may seem shy, bored, or rude.  They may look straight past you—or straight through you. They are still learning all that it is to be human, still working out how to connect well with others. In the meantime, things can be undeniably messy.

Because of this, we tend to default to the disciples’ approach. It goes something like this: “Kids, until you can sit still, look me in the eye, and stop making a mess, you have no business bothering Jesus.”

But Jesus has a different way. It’s radical, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s something that, even after years of studying and trying to promote, I still find really hard to practice. It is to really welcome children.

What would it have meant for Jesus to welcome children? I imagine he would have knelt to their level, looked them in the eye, remembered their names, and spoken to them respectfully, and interestedly. Above all, we know he took them seriously—so seriously that he describes them as our teachers. Luke 18:16: “for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it,” In some mysterious way, even amidst their messiness, little children are first into the kingdom of God. And, unless we imitate them, we won’t get in at all.

So, when it would be easier to just talk to the parents, or speak in a way that is easy but definitely a little condescending, this is what I try to remember: Jesus takes this child deadly seriously. Will I follow him?

Reflection by Laura on Luke 18:15-17.