See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

In church on Sunday Seth walked past his seated siblings in the pew to get to me.  He had his fidget spinner in his hand and looked at me with intense eyes.  “Will you put this in your purse Mom, or I’m going to play with it,” he confessed.  I gave him a little hug, “You can fidget for now, Seth!  Really, it’s okay!” and he went back to his place, Sarah and Caleb between us.

I thought about how easy it was to say “it’s okay” this time instead of “give me that!” and how it softened my own heart as well as his.  I know it softened his because very soon he came back and sat himself between me and his sister, snuggling up close to me with his small hands holding the spinner.  Eventually during the sermon the fidget spinner did end up in my purse, but even that was okay, because Seth knew that sometimes it’s okay to spin and sometimes it’s not okay to spin, but his Mom loved him and understood his thoughts and ways.  He knew he was a good boy.

We listened to his Dad preach and I thanked God over and over for the small son next to me, leaning into me, playing with my hair, my hands, the rings on my fingers.  I scribbled sermon notes on a piece of paper and meanwhile Seth was thinking about Mama and wondering and thinking thoughts so he leaned over and whispered, “Are you going to be sad when we’re all grown up?” and I looked at him and nodded a sincere “yes”.

He smiled as he sat back in his seat because it reinforced what he knew was true, “My mom loves me.”

I want to shout it from the rooftops:

BEING A MOM HAS BEEN THE MOST WONDERFUL BECAUSE the CHILDREN HAVE BEEN THE MOST WONDERFUL.

It’s not so much that I myself am a “good mom”,  it’s that I know children are gifts from above and I have deep appreciation for the opportunity to love and be loved by them.  Wow, what a blessing.  So often I have this in mind as I bend down to hug, or reach over to pat any one of my children next to me in the front seat of the car.

WHY DID GOD GIVE me CHILDREN?

One of the reasons is, not only that they need me, but BECAUSE HE KNEW I NEEDED THEM.  They, without even knowing it, have served and ministered to my heart in countless ways.

I need their love, I need their childlike wonder to show me what really matters.

We all do….teachers, bus drivers, coaches, aunts, uncles, dads; we are all enriched by the little people in our worlds.  We can learn so much from them.

****

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.
He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,
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.”
And he took the children in his arms,
placed his hands on them and blessed them