About that time the discliples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea." "Beware that you don´t look down on any of these little ones, for i tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father."
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don´t stop them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like these children." And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. --Matthew 18:1-6,10; 19:13-14--
This past week i was reflecting on a few things, and i came to realize that in both my training in Chicago and also my time spent in Colombia,
I have spent with children. In Chicago i worked at Gad´s Hill, a daycare & preschool, in the mornings. I spent my afternoons at a YMCA where i helped school kids with their homework. Also, a major portion of my activities in Colombia involve children. The work i have joined in Anapoima includes many kids. In fact every time i go to the town, i find myself hanging with the kids. This past week Colegio Americano Menno began the new school year. At the school i am helping out 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. The school is filled with 500+ students. As i was reflecting i was thinking "Wow! I am spending way too much time with kids, when i return i´m not going to be able to communicate with adults." Then i realized that i too had been blessed to have lived in a home with 3 wonderful sisters, and my home in Colombia also includes 2 new sisters whom i have appreciated very much. So then i realized that God has prepared me for my time in Colombia throughout my whole life. Later that evening i happened to be reading in Matthew and i came accross 2 different passages where Jesus was encountered by children. So now i finally got it, God wanted to teach me to not only interact with the children but to be like them, to take after them, and to be vulnerable just as they are.
