Thursday, May 6, 2004
Thursday, May 6, 2004
Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
(Psalm 34.11
NRSV)
A small child was sitting in her mother's lap and they were looking at a magazine together. When they came across a picture of Jesus, her mother asked, "Do you know who that is?" "Yes," the young child said matter-of-factly, "He goes to our church."
Children may not understand everything we talk about in church. What they do understand, though, will make a difference in their lives.
There is an old story about Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the great English poet. He was once talking with a man who told him that he did not believe in giving children any religious instruction. His theory was that the child's mind should not be prejudiced in any direction. Children should be permitted to choose their religious opinions completely for themselves. Coleridge said nothing, but after a while he asked his visitor if he would like to see his garden. The man said yes, and Coleridge took him out into the garden, where only weeds were growing. The man looked at Coleridge in surprise, and said, "Why, this is not a garden! There are nothing but weeds here!"
"Well, you see," answered Coleridge, "I did not wish to infringe upon the liberty of the garden in any way. I was just giving the garden a chance to express itself and to choose its own production." Home is where we first meet God.
Dear God, thank you for children and the opportunity to teach them about your love in Jesus Christ. Amen.
