Loving children like Jesus does

“Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven.” 

Henry Ward Beecher 

His nickname was “Sparky.” For Sparky, school was all but impossible. He failed every subject in the eighth grade, every subject!. He flunked physics in high school, getting a grade of zero. Sparky also flunked Latin, Algebra, and English. He didn’t do much better in sports. Although he did manage to make the school’s golf team, he promptly lost the only important match of the season. There was a consolation match…he lost that too. 

  Throughout his youth, Sparky was awkward, socially. He wasn’t actually disliked by the other kids; no one really cared that much. He was astonished if a classmate ever said hello to him outside of school. There’s no way to tell how he might have done at dating. Sparky never asked a girl to go out in high school. He was too afraid of being turned down.

  Sparky was a loser. He, his classmates…everyone knew it. So he rolled with it. Sparky had made up his mind early in life that if things were meant to work out they would. Otherwise, he would content himself with what appeared to be his inevitable mediocrity.

  But there was one thing that was important to Sparky — drawing. He was proud of his artwork. Of course, no one else appreciated it. In his senior year of high school, he submitted some cartoons to the editors of the yearbook. You already know what happened – his cartoons were turned down. Despite this particular rejection, Sparky was so convinced of his ability that he decided to become a professional artist. So, after completing high school, he wrote a letter to Walt Disney Studios. He was told to send some samples of his artwork and the subject for a cartoon was suggested.

  Sparky drew the proposed cartoon. He spent a great deal of time on it and on all of the other drawings he submitted. Finally, the reply came from Disney Studios. He’d been rejected once again. Another loss for the loser.

  So Sparky decided to write his own autobiography…in cartoons. He described his childhood self — a little boy loser and chronic underachiever.

  His cartoon character would soon become famous worldwide. For Sparky, the boy who had such a lack of success in school and whose work was rejected again and again, was none other than the great Charles Schulz. He created the Peanuts comic strip and the little cartoon character whose kite would never fly and who never succeeded in even kicking a football —Charlie Brown.

  Through the years I’ve met a lot of  “Charlie Browns.” It’s heartbreaking. You could be sitting next to an adult version of one at church or perhaps work with one, or live near one.

  Early on I began ministering to children. As a junior higher, I would accompany a godly adult leader, Jim Pendley, along with other boys to assist with a Sunday school in a nearby low-income housing project.

  Both Jane and I cut our teeth together in ministering to children. After college, Jane taught second grade. When we were married, we taught a pre-school Sunday school class together. One of the tykes from that class is now a pastor in Madison.

  My heart is filled with many faces from over the years. Many of them were hurting children from horrible homes, who were true victims. In both LaCrosse and Danville, IL, I ministered in bus ministries where we picked up area children. Often the children had to get themselves up to get ready because Mom or Dad were still sleeping off the previous night’s “activities.” In those two churches, we had nearly a hundred children who rode the bus to church. Forty years later I’m still in contact with some of those trophies of God’s grace!

  Our Vacation Bible School kicks off on August 1^st. Becca Mueller, the director of our VBS is praying for 50. Becca never does anything halfway. The team is trained and prepared and supplies have been ordered. Next Sunday we’ll have a prayer of dedication for them in our worship service. YOU though are a key part of this making an eternal impact. We need you to invite children that God has brought into your circle of influence.

  Yet, there are some big hindrances in us reaching these children – social bigotry and lack of faith. I’ve watched it over the years. In fact, as a troubled teen after my Mom was killed, I became that teen that church parents instructed their kids to stay away from because I was a “bad kid.” Praise the Lord for a godly youth pastor, named Kent Richards, who reached out with Christ’s love to me.

  Christian parents, please read the Bible for yourself. You can’t isolate or protect your children from all of the bad stuff and evil people out there. Instead, trust God and prayerfully use your kids as gospel bridges. If God can’t protect your children, what makes you believe that you’ll be able to?

  Who should you look for? What kids should be on your radar? Who should you invite to your dinner table or to come over to play? Who should you invite to VBS or give a ride to church or a kids’ or teen program?

  The quiet kid. This is the child you hardly know is there. They may have learning issues or a disability. Perhaps they’ve learned at home or at school that it’s safer to be quiet.

  The unattractive kid. Maybe they're overweight or skinny. Body shaming happens at church and in church ministries too. It’s usually subtle but it’s there. In a world where attractiveness puts you on the A list, being average or less, or not meeting some societal standard of attractiveness can carry a high price.

  The awkward kid. In a culture that’s sports-driven, heaven help the child with two left hands. They quickly know how few skills they have by the nicknames or that they’re always picked last when teams are chosen.

  The misbehaving kid. Some children misbehave because of a disability. Everyone wants at least some acknowledgment and attention. They want their personhood.

  Or, if you can’t get good attention, you’ll opt for bad attention. Frequently, children act out the drama of their home. Anger, tantrums, sullenness can be a way of coping with a poor home life. Alcohol and drugs can be an attempt at self-medication. Promiscuity is a cry for intimacy, love, and acceptance. Every child wants to be accepted and loved.

  Often Christian parents keep their children away from children who come from troubled homes; divorce, addiction, sexual issues, etc., but those children are not contagious. The Bible speaks often about not judging a child because of the sins of the parents. It’s why it’s so important that we reach out to those who often fall in the cracks. It’s what Jesus did and it’s what He has called us to do. VBS is a great place to start! Will you reach out to the children God has brought across your path?

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.