The Little Children and Jesus

                                                                                            (the Denninger Michigan grandloves)

Matthew 19:14 and the KJV

“Suffer the little children to come unto me.”

What do you miss most about ‘in person’ worship services? What do you think your pastor misses the most?

I’m quite certain that some pastors will admit to missing the children’s sermon, especially those minutes when the children approach the front of the church. There was one congregation where the kids regularly raced to the front. John (my husband) loved it. He loved the excitement and the just plain fun of leading the children’s sermon. He even enjoyed the moments when an innocent question produced an answer that did not match the desired response. I know congregations love those times as well. Their giggles give them away.

Here is where I quarrel with the language of the KJV as it encourages us to ‘suffer the little children’. Congregations and clergy alike seem to feel obliged to suffer the children, especially their noise, in the midst of the service. Even the more benign translation, let, almost makes the presence of children in worship services a burden rather than a blessing.  I suspect that Jesus was really saying, ‘Come on people, let me have some of the fun, let me hold your children close and hear their songs of praise.’

Teachers and pastors both have hard jobs, however, the joy of seeing or hearing a child accept the good news of God’s love makes it all worth-while. This opportunity is just not there in ‘streamed’ services. 

So come on, children of God, for heaven’s sake, let your pastor know when you rejoice to hear the word of God. Send an electronic ‘Amen’, a smile, a ‘Hosanna!’, or an ‘Alleluia!’ Parents, you are part of the children of God, you need to ‘Give God the Glory’ too. Make sending a thank-you card a family project. It can be electronic or hard copy, email, snail mail, or voice mail. And then, do not expect an answer. Your pastor still has to visit the sick, prepare for the next week, plan for the year, and comply with a raft of government restrictions. But know that you will be part of your pastor’s prayers of thanksgiving.

Thanks to contributing writer 

Natalie Grace Hartwig for this devotion.