I’ve always felt more comfortable with children than with adults. Adults can be scary. They can, intentionally or unintentionally, criticize, reject and cause many painful feelings. They often have expectations I don’t feel I can meet. Children, however, accept me just as I am. They aren’t put off by my failures or impressed by my accomplishments. They look me in the eye and give me a clean slate, accepting me for who I am. I find it easy to be myself around children, probably because there is still a lot of child in me!
I guess that’s why I feel so comfortable with my grandchildren. Actually, they are no different than me. I just have a little more life experience than they do. We share the same feelings and emotions, the same fears and doubts. And we can be open and vulnerable with each other and safely share those common experiences.
Sometimes I see adults treating children as “less” than themselves and that bothers me, for they are just as human as we are! Speaking down to them, ignoring them, or taking advantage of them is inexcusable. The Golden Rule has no age restrictions! God doesn’t look down on us but treats us with respect and honor. We are to do that to others as well, including children.
Luke 18:15-17 And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
Luke 9:47-48 But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”
How do you view children, or anyone that is different than you for that matter? Do you ever look down on people? Do you sometimes ignore children as less important than you? If so, confess that as sin. God doesn’t look down on us, we can’t think less of others.
Next time you are with a child listen to them. Let them do the talking and get to know them as a person