suffer the little ones

 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.