There is this little boy who comes home with my son. He stays here until his mom or dad decide to come get him. He's a great kid, but it is clear that he has some problems. I am not putting down his parents, who are divorced and both work. I have a lot of kids that come over here after school rather than go home to empty houses (sometimes it's like they're empty even if a parent is there--you know what I mean).
Anyway, I've always had a heart for kids. I have two of my own living and two step-children; not to mention the neighborhood kids I've adopted. I've taught Sunday school, and also home schooled my son and five others. Which by no means makes me any kind of expert, but what I'm saying is that kids hold a special place with me. They are the next generation and I know satan would just love to get his hooks into them.
Back to this other little boy. He is almost ten and he can barely read. He takes "special" reading in school, but the school is really lacking in how much they can do for this child. So, I help him with some words when he comes over here, we might do three words, we might do five, nothing too intense, just simple words. He likes it, he seems to make some progress and it's not like it takes any great effort on my part. So, I got to thinking, maybe I could combine bible study and reading lessons together for him. So I asked his mom.
Yikes! I don't push my relationship with God on to anyone else (I hope), but I don't see anything wrong with what I was thinking of doing. I'm not trying to convert him, but if he learns about God what's the harm? Anyway, she told me that he didn't need to learn about God. I asked her why. She stated that he is only ten, it's not like he's an old man getting ready to die. I explained that children are not exempt from death, infants, toddlers, teens die every day. She said, "Well he's not a sinner, he hasn't killed or stole. That's a good thing, but the word of God says that WE HAVE ALL SINNED, we are born into sin. Well, after about a half an hour of this, she finally conceded to let me use the bible to help him learn words, but she clearly warned me that "..if he gets all fanatical about it, then it has to stop." Some people crack me up.
This reminded me of those who wanted to keep the children from coming around Jesus. As if they were a burden or a bother to Him. It's almost as though they were thinking that the children had no business bothering a man such as Jesus. But it was clear then and still is today, that Jesus wants the children to come to Him. He loves all children from new born to 100 and beyond. Shouldn't we be allowing the children the opportunity to learn about Jesus and to see us as examples?
The part that really gets me, is that in all honesty this was actually more my sons' idea than mine. He thought it would be a good idea and a way for them to have something different to do after school. Works for me. Besides, the boy is only here a couple hours a day, so maybe he won't get "too fanatical" in that period of time. But maybe he'll learn some words, learn a little about God, and maybe he can even teach his parents a thing or two.
copyright 2004 Pastor Brenda Libby
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