Let the children come

September 28, 2016 students around the country shared their faith in the national “See you at the pole” (SYATP) event. This is a time for students, teachers and faculty, parents, siblings, and community members to gather around the school flag pole as the students lead a time of prayer for their school, their country, and themselves.

               This year I was able to attend the event at Grandview School. It was a humid and foggy morning, and we stood in a circle while students took turns reading passages of Scripture from the Psalms. Then the students led an accupella “Amazing Grace”, and then we prayed together, a prayer that one of the students had written, which lifted up our turning from God, and asked his forgiveness on our schools, families, nation, and world. After this a student asked if there was a pastor there who would like to say something…so of course I did! And Dave Blevins, pastor at Telford Grace Brethren Church, also gave thanks for the students and the freedoms on which we stand.

               Then I went to work. And this year’s SYATP was over. But not really.

(Patty Broyles, Reagan Haney, and Carla Weems pray at the pole. Photo courtesy of Melanie Barnett. Minor photo used with permission of Tara Haney.)

               This picture is of a Kindergarten student who got to school after the 7:40AM SYATP was over. Let’s be honest, most of our schools, even most of us, would have been sympathetic with her for sure, but we would have said something like, “I’m sorry you missed it, honey. You can come back next year”.

               Thankfully that is not what happened September 28 at Grandview. Coach Carla Weems and Patty Broyles took time out of their morning, and let this student, Ragan Haney, pray at the pole.

               Maybe that’s what Jesus meant when he said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children” (Matthew 19:14 NLT).

                  We usually talk of these verses in terms of the innocence of children, the trusting nature of children, and the reality that in the culture in which Jesus lived, children were not high on the social standing ladder. This makes sense, then, for the disciples to try to send them away. They are probably running down the dirt road after them, yelling “Jesus, Jesus”, kicking up dust all over the place, and maybe even (hold your breath)…wanting Jesus to play a game with them! And it was these children’s parents (Matthew 19:13) who had brought them to Jesus to be blessed. The nerve of these parents, right?

              So the disciples told them to go home. Get lost. Be seen and not heard. Be quiet. This is important adult stuff here. Come back next year. But Jesus said, “Let them come to me!”

               Sometimes we are just too busy. I know you all have important adult stuff to do today and important adult decisions to make today. But I pray that God would show us the more important opportunities to stop and encourage, love, and pray with these children that are in our lives.

               Maybe Carla and Patty heard Jesus say, “Don’t you dare tell her to go away…you let her come to Me!”

And thankfully they did.

And I pray that we will also.

God bless you Reagan, Carla, and Patty. And thank you for all being used by God to remind me of this today.