I decided to start with the topic of ‘Kids’ for my first post on Arise to Shine.
Children… they are, for those of us who are parents, our true pride and joy, our reason for making something of ourselves.
Even those who have not been parents seem to smile whenever a little tike says or does something childlike.
It seems to me that children today don’t get to be kids for very long.
I then thought about those that die too young, never know the assurance of a loving parent, are sold for a profit, and those who are expected to be adults way too soon. Children have qualities–characteristics that are ignored, or by some, criticized. I wonder why we expect them to have adult logic, or problem-solving skills, or discernment, or even already acquired physical skills. (Ah…this makes me think of those adults who want super stars in T-ball or midget football leagues!)
I’ve wondered if there has been something we have missed in Jesus’ teaching about children.
Are we missing an important message about kids as we go about our daily lives?
I’ve been wondering…
• What does God want us to know about children?
• Do we ignore what kids can teach us?
• We can’t enter God’s kingdom unless we are like children.
• What does He mean? (Mark 10:13-16, NIV)
• Can we learn something about our own life’s purpose from children?