Living in the Spirit

October 3, 2021

Scripture Reading: Mark 10:2-16

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. –Mark 10-13-16

Children take in whatever their senses pick up. Psychologist Jean Piaget believed that children do not begin to develop the ability of abstract thinking until they are at least eleven years old. We joke about how children interpret life. A cartoon illustrates a child hearing his mother say on the phone that she was all tied up and could not talk. The image that forms in the child’s mind is the telephone cord wrapped around his mother from head to foot. If a child hears adults say something, like a curse word, they assume it is alright to say it until they utter the word at dinner with their grandparents.

We all have the responsibility to live our lives as examples for everyone around us but especially children.  The hate-filled anger displayed on TV by adults refusing to wear masks indeed causes great consternation for the child who must wear masks in school. I have wondered what kind of example those adults had as children made them think their adult behavior was appropriate. It does not need to be that way. Children have fun wearing masks playing make-believe characters. Wearing a mask during this COVID pandemic is a great way to teach children how to love their neighbor as themselves. We do have the right to free speech; we do not have the right to do it in an unresponsible manner.

Prayer: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer*.  Amen.

*Psalm 19:14

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.