Suffer the Little Ones
Remembering a time when I was visiting some
friends…
A brother was wanting me to make him a
modest shirt…I was in a nearby city visiting another family. While I was there
I was planning to sew the shirt the Brother requested. The family I was
visiting had planned to take me to the city where the brother was that wanted
the shirt. The night before we were to leave to go to the brother’s house I was
pressed for time to finish his shirt. It was getting late. There was a little
girl about the age of three who really wanted to spend time with me as I was
trying to sew the shirt. It was important to me to finish this shirt. I knew
that if I was going to get it done I really needed to focus on it & not
stop for anything. But this little girl wanted to touch the buttons on the
sewing machine; she wanted to be a part of what I was doing. Oh, how it was
slowing me down to have her around! Natural reasoning would have me shoo her
away so I could be sure to finish the project. I had to look beyond myself
& realize this was a little soul. What a precious thing it was that she
desired my company. What was more important her soul, or my project? It’s been
so long I can’t remember the reasoning that led me to deny myself & receive
this Little One.
But
I do remember that I’m so glad that I did; even though it slowed me down
tremendously. I took her in my lap & taught her how to use the machine so she
could help. She was so happy to get to help. I was so happy that I made the
choice to deny myself. I was able to truly surrender my will, & just accept
the consequence of my choice to not turn her away.
Somehow, I was able to finish all but the
hem of his shirt (if my memory is right, it was only the hem). The little that was left to do I was
able to show the brother’s wife how to finish it off. It seems the Lord
satisfied my desire to help this brother get the shirt he wanted; while also
satisfying the little girls desire to sew with me. It was a reminder to not let
the cares of this life control us. It is so easy to get caught up in all the
things we think we need to accomplish in a day & run over the Little Ones who
slow us down & get under our feet. Those days turn into weeks & weeks
to months & months to years…suddenly the
Little Ones are no longer the Little Ones.
The
Little Ones are in our lives for a reason.
Although they may seem to slow us down maybe it’s for good reason. A man once
told me something along the lines… “the house is meant to serve us not us the
house.” Whether you are a single sister, a daughter, or a wife when you go
about your feminine duties of keeping a house or daily life know that the Little Ones
learn
much from our example. What is our example teaching them? Are they learning to
be full of cares, & to put their cares above the needs or interests of
others? Are they being taught to worry or get frustrated?
The character of Little Ones is
formed by observing those around them. What are they learning by watching you?
Is your face glued to your computer for hours day after day? Is your attention
fully given to your cell phone throughout the day? Are you short on patience
when they want your attention? These & other habits we may have can turn the Little Ones into
“monsters”/ Self-seeking, irritable
human beings. Instead of thinking we need to get the Little Ones
“out of our hair” what we may need to do is change our way of thinking. If you
are a mother you may want to consider that now is the time that you have to
mold your child into a Christ-like being. Their soul should be a top priority.
If there are things you’d like to accomplish in life consider fulfilling those
desires after your children are grown;—if those accomplishments are not
suffering you to give your children the guidance they need (if it’s the Lord’s
will it will happen in His time).
This morning as I was approaching the
building we gather for fellowship at, one of the
Little Ones called out to me. She ran over
so excited to tell me that she recently wore her head covering like I wear mine.
At our fellowship we do not have “dress codes,” but we do expect those
professing Christ to yield to the convictions of the Holy Spirit. Such
convictions teach women to be modest & covered. Thanks be to God we do not
contend with each other about the specifics of modesty & coverings so long
as they are present (modest clothes & head coverings). Thus, we have some
variations.
All
this to say that the
Little Ones are watching & forming
their character by what they see & hear in the lives of those around them.
We must suffer their little hearts to be strengthened & encouraged by our
self-less lives; we must deny
ourselves to stop our busy lives & include them. Little Ones can
be an incentive to our lives to help us press in, watch & pray, consider
our ways. Are my daily activities going to form a godly character in this Little Ones
life?
And they brought young children to him, that
he should touch them: and his disciples
rebuked those that brought them.
But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them
not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Verily I say unto
you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall
not enter therein.
And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16)
As servants of Christ we must seize opportunities to minister to the needs of the Little Ones. They are the coming generation...Let us labor to bring forth a godly generation rather than...
Proverbs_30:11 There is a generation that
curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
Proverbs_30:12 There is a generation that are
pure in their own eyes, and yet is not
washed from their filthiness.
Proverbs_30:13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their
eyelids are lifted up.
Proverbs_30:14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as
knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
Our examples will give shape to their character.
