Monday, October 20, 2008

Hugs and such...

Mark 10:13 deals with noisy children. In this scene, a crowd interrupts Jesus' preaching. I'm sure the children were boisterous, energetic and loud! They instinctively ran towards someone who enjoyed them. The apostles were stern in trying to turn them as well as their parents away...Imagine them saying "These kids are not serious! We are here trying to listen and all we can hear is noise and commotion!" But then the One the children loved and the One that loved them intervened and instead of sending them away He asked them to come closer. He held them in His arms and laid His hands upon them in blessing. He gave them two gifts that cost nothing; His time and His affection.

These days, parents are often so busy that the children suffer from too little attention. There are concerns about their safety which means that they receive no physical contact from others...society tells us that we must be careful. These apprehensions are understandable and shouldn't be down-played but it's truly a shame when a child runs to you with arms wide open, only to be turned away. Their needs remain the same and the monetary cost is still nothing. They need our attention and a place to be children loved by the Father and loved by us. In as much as you can open your arms but more importantly, open your hearts.

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