“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid His hands on them and departed from there” (Matthew 19:13-15 NKJV). When we moved to Highland Home to begin working with the church there, almost ten years ago, Chris, our youngest, was 11-years-old. There were few little ones in the congregation at that time, especially no small children. Now, our Sunday and Wednesday night Bible classes have several children. Our classes are able to be divided by age. I know that doesn’t sound like much to some from larger congregations, but for our little group of around 50, that is exciting news. We have two babies on the way. We have several that range from 9-months to 4-years-old. There is a sizable number that are older than 4, up to about 10 or 11. It is exciting for us to see these little ones heading to and coming from our Bible classes.
Sometimes the little ones get a little loud. One Sunday, two of our little boys (both less than 18-months-old) were not in good moods, and they let everybody know it. One mother said, “I think our boys tried to out-preach you today!” Just this past Sunday, one of our little girls was given a quarter by her mother to put in the collection plate. She is a cute little girl with curly hair. I can’t remember how old she is, exactly, but she is a toddler. When the plate went by, she put the money in, but then she let out a loud complaint, and cried, “I want my money back!” I am glad we take up collection near the end of services, because every person in the auditorium was laughing so hard after they heard her. (I wonder how many adults actually feel the same way, but they just aren’t honest enough to admit it out loud, or they don’t give at all. That’s a thought for another day!) Sometimes someone asks me, “Does it bother you when these little ones make noise or do something funny?” My answer is that it does not bother me at all. Here are some of the reasons why.
1. I always say that if I can’t out-preach the babies that I might as well give up. I have never been a big believer in making a fuss because babies make some noise. I have heard the deafening silence when a congregation has no little ones.
2. When a little one is making noise in the assembly, it means he or she is in the assembly. I believe that the sounds of little ones in the assembly mean that there are parents who believe in the importance of assembling. Each squeak, squeal, laugh or cry tells me that someone realizes that the time to teach a little one about assembling together is from the day he or she is born! Those little noises will turn to language, and ultimately little ones will become adults who have been taught from birth that assembling to study God’s Word and to worship Him are important parts of life.
3. Once in a while a mother says, “I haven’t gotten to really listen to a sermon in months, and I worry that we are bothering others!” Now, I know that this is Dean, not Bible, but I believe that what you are gaining as you struggle with your little one, as that little one wiggles, whines and complains, as that little one thrashes about and demands your attention (all you young mothers know what I mean), what you are gaining is the respect of right-thinking people and the growth of a little one who will know what worship is as he or she grows. The way I look at it, a lost sermon or two along the way may help to prevent a lost soul later on down the road.
4. I ask for God’s blessings on young parents. I know that you are making decisions every day that affect your children’s future and even their eternities. Stay strong and ever put Christianity before their eyes. Please don’t ever let anyone discourage you from doing what will build up your children in serving God. You will never regret it if you bring them to worship. Hopefully, it will keep you from ever being in the situation where you cry out, in a serious lament, “I want my children back,” when it is too late. We pray for you, we love you, and we want to be an encouragement to you in every way as you do this especially important, very wonderful, yet difficult job.
5. Let me encourage each of us to reassure these young parents to have their children in the assembly, at Bible classes and involved in their parents’ Christian lives. Let each of us, like Jesus say, “Let the little children come to Me [Jesus], and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” What a blessing our little ones are, gifts from God Himself.
