Mark 10:13
Most
parents want what is best for their children. However, often times what they
think is best is not really the best. Many parents want to spare their children
from all pain and suffering, thinking it will protect them and help them to
grow up.
One
example of the over-protection came out in the news recently. A study found
that households that used more sanitizing solutions around the house and with
their children, that those children were sicker in the long run than households
that didn’t over sanitize. It appears that kids need to get small sicknesses in
order for their immune system to develop properly. They need to eat dirt! Well,
maybe not, but you get the picture.
Kids
need to learn to push and shove, and how it feels to be pushed and shoved by
another. They need to be on both ends of the equation, pusher and pushed. It
helps to build empathy, an essential element in all human relationships. We
need to learn how the other person feels by feeling it ourselves.
Some
parents were bringing their children to Jesus one day. They recognized that
Jesus was someone special, that His touch did something to those on the
receiving end. They wanted their children to get the benefit of His touch. It
sounds like they were great parents, wanting what was best for their children.
Who could fault them for that? The disciples did.
The
disciples saw this action by these parents and didn’t understand it. They
wanted to put a stop to it immediately. I am not sure why. Did they think the
kids were not worth bothering with, that Jesus was wasting His time with them?
Were they jealous of Jesus’ attention? Had they bought into the values of their
day, the values Jesus was going to challenge? We don’t know. We do know they
tried to stop the parents.
It
seems as if the children were relatively healthy children, no mention of
healing is given. These were not desperate parents with children dying of
chronic diseases or conditions. It seems as if these were pretty spunky kids. I
get the picture of these kids running and jumping on Jesus, dog pile style. I
see a smiles and giggles abounding. I don’t picture a scene like Santa Claus at
the mall, slowly waiting in line with the disciples playing the part of the
helpful elves.
And
Jesus blesses them, not from a distance, not with a word, but with His hands on
them. This is a person, involved, interactive experience. Jesus didn’t wave His
hand for silence, stand up and wave His hand in some grand gesture of blessing.
He is not apart from them. He is right there, putting His hands on them and
blessing them.
I
like have a God who puts His hands on me and blesses me. Some days I feel as if
I am in the palm of His hand, His blessing being so evident in my life. It can
be overwhelming to realize all the blessings He pours out on me. I am blessed.