In the wake of the brutal and
evil attack in Newtown, CT, the internet swirls with opinions about gun
control, school safety, mental health, and the sovereignty of God. As a parent
of a kindergartener at a public school, I have been imagining the events as if
they happened to me and to my little Sydney. I was at Sydney’s school when the
massacre took place. I see these precious children’s faces several times a
week, and I just love them. My stomach churns, my gut aches, my spirit groans.
Can we just stop and mourn with these families? I understand there are
important topics that must be addressed and should be discussed, but can we not
hurt and weep with these parents first? I am reminded of Jesus’ response when
he arrived at Lazarus’ grave in John 11. He knew He was to raise Lazarus from
the dead, but He was still deeply moved with those mourning and He wept. Those
of us who are Christians understand that these children have hope in Christ,
but we still weep at the temporary sting of death. Psalm 34:18 is an
encouragement to us, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the
crushed in spirit.” I have not parented a child for 6 years and then lost him,
but I know the Lord has comforted my broken heart when I have been crushed, and
He gives His children unfailing hope, unconditional peace and miraculous
comfort. Please join me in continuing to pray for these families, as well as
cherishing and honoring the children in our own lives. May we love and cherish
all children from conception to the grave.
John Piper once wrote, “How we
deal with children is a signal of our fellowship with God. Something is deeply
amiss in the soul that does not descend (or is it really ascend?) to love and hold a child.” Our family devotions
this month have been Advent-themed, and we have been talking about a different
name of Jesus every night. We wrote them out on stars and have been putting one
up each night above a manger cutout. I think about Immanuel, God with us, our
greatest example. How did Jesus respond to children, and is our attitude
towards them in line with his? Christ humbled Himself and came as an infant, He
took children in His arms and blessed them (Mark 10:14-16), He healed a little
girl (Matt. 15:28), cast a demon out of a little boy (Matt. 17:18), raised a
little girl from the dead (Mark 5:41-42), and accepted a boy’s ordinary gift of
loaves and fishes, then feeding a multitude with them (John 6:9-10). It’s clear
in Scripture that Jesus loved children and children loved Him. The Bible
encourages us to become like children (Matt. 18:3-4), and each day as I watch
my children – I am humbled by this. They are so innocent, so energetic, so
magical in their thinking. They are strong, they are full of life, they are
curious. They trust unwaveringly, they forgive easily, they laugh and cry
often. They enjoy their Creator and all that He has made for them. They find
joy in the smallest of things and have eyes widened with wonder at the
mysteries that surround them. All the while, they are acutely aware of their
great neediness. My children know that they mess up A LOT. They know that they
need someone to care for them. They are eager to learn, because they realize
they don’t have all the answers. They feel the pain of others in a way I have
forgotten. Is it any wonder we are called to be like these?
This morning, I was re-reading a
blog entry called “10 Resolutions for Mental Health” that John Piper wrote to
honor a teacher of his, and I think it is generally good advice for all of us.
If you have time, please read it. So many of the resolutions encourage us to
become like children once again. Mommies, put down your dishtowels today and
stare at your children. Daddies, hide the remote control and wrestle with your
kids. And if you don’t have children of your own, God has still placed children
in your life for you to minister to and to learn from. Jesus never married or
had children, but oh how he loved the little ones! Let us fiercely love the
children in our lives, and let us fight for those who are unwanted and unloved.
May we have a deeper appreciation and a greater love for our Savior this year,
as we celebrate His first coming in the form of a child. Our family wishes you a very Merry CHRISTmas!
