Welcoming the Child

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Listen to this story:

“Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’” — Mark 9:36, 37

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This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://spectrummagazine.org/article/2018/02/27/welcoming-child

[sam (Sam Geli)]

This past year as a new Grandfather I have learned more of Christ’s love, forgiveness, and blessings than ever before in my life. Vanessa has been the most understanding, wisest and practical “theologian” that I have ever met. It is important for me to communicate to my granddaughter that I love her and accept her even though I may not accept her misbehavior. The Holy Spirit knows the needs she has so I ask him to intercede according to His will. It is comforting to me that I can put my concerns in God’s hand, leaving them with Him. It shifts the burden to God, instead of carrying it myself. The love I have for Vanessa would like to control her life and keep her

from pain, disappointment, or discouragement.God has created my granddaughter for a unique purpose. I pray she will discover her dreams, be motivated to pursue them, and trust He will provide the resources for her to be close to God.

[Carmen (Carmen Lau)]

Thank you for this essay about “becoming like a child.” Some people use this as a reason to not tackle any difficult issue. You describe the tensions in reaching a goal of maturity, beyond drinking “milk.” Yet avoiding an advancement to a self serving way that allows “sighs of cynicism to carry the weight of authority.”

The consciousness of childhood gives way to the self-consciousness of the youth, and the egotism of the adult. Every adult experiences the reality of the Fall, over and over, in the course of life. Our rational freedom, a gift from God, opens possibilities to transcend our situation. But it’s also reason which often sabotages our ability to achieve such harmony. Niebuhr warns that, “Therefore man is estranged from himself and discovers that there is a law in his members which wars against the law that is in his mind (138).”

Becoming as a little child again is not a promise of a recaptured innocence. “To repent and be converted,” says Niebuhr, “cannot mean to achieve perfect honesty. It must mean to achieve the honesty of knowing that we are not honest

Metanoia. Repentance. Turn around. All good thoughts. The Buddhist way does not grapple with these big issues, rather advising to wake up and do right because it is right. That is also a “childlike” response.

[tjzwemer (Thomas J Zwemer)]

Youth is the spring of life. There is newness,freshness, wonderment all around. The air is full of hope and promise. their eyes dance and their faces and hearts shine forth the joy of living. Within are great desires and strong urges crying for fulfillment.

The great surging of the heart are God implanted. what a cruel joke if they were placed without hope of fulfillment. Religion can either help or hinder those expectations. Ambition is of God. it is only the perversion of ambition that is devilish.

The fulfillment of freedom, greatness, and happiness lies in three primary choices.

1. A decision for Christ.
2. A decision for a life work.
   3.A decision for a life companion.

Just like the rainbow they must come in proper order. The decision to accept Christ as Lord and Savior greatly focuses both ones life work and ones choice of a life companion.