Jesus Loves the Little Ones

In 1 Samuel 1-3, The story of Hannah is a beautiful example of the mercies of God. Hannah was barren and went to the Lord in prayer. Hanna was asking for a child, and in doing so, Hannah promised to dedicate that child to God. So, in getting what she wanted, she immediately gave her child Samuel to the Lord without sadness.

In verses 12- 20, we read, “As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered, “No, my Lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the LORD.”

Hannah acknowledged her son was from God; Samuel was a child of God and belonged to God. We sometimes forget that our children are God’s; they are on loan to us from God, and eventually, when God decides, He calls them back to Him. God’s call does not make it any less heartbreaking when God calls a child home, but God blessed us in that we had them at all.As we raise our children, we catechize them; we teach them, love them and care for them. They know that we love them and would do anything for them. One thing we must do, which I regret not having the spiritual knowledge to do earlier, is emphasize the importance of their striving not to please us but God. When we add God to the equation, we add a higher level of necessity. If you tell a child to work hard in all they do and be respectful of everyone, it is not so that their behavior reflects well on you, but that they do it for the Gospel. Then it reflects a blinding light on both them and you before God. God sees that we, as parents, elevate Him above ourselves in our children’s lives. Our children then know that we are elevating God above ourselves, and our children then elevate God before everything else in their life.

We do our best as parents, stepparents, foster, and adopted parents. Something I never thought of is that in each example of parenting, we are all still surrogates for God. We are human. We make mistakes in our parenting due to the flaws we possess. I always told my kids there is nothing you can do that will make me stop loving you. When was the last time you told your child there is nothing they can do that will stop God from loving them? When was the last time you explained the Gospel to your child, regardless of age? Imagine if every child knew that what they did in their life was for God. The harsh words of the bully would be gone; they would not matter because the child finds their self-worth in God. The burden of struggling in school and life would be shoved to the wayside, knowing Christ carries their burdens when they place their faith in Him. Imagine every child who knows God knows they are loved with a love beyond human love. In war, loss, struggle, and family problems, God always loves them with a love that can erase everything.

Teach the Gospel. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 9:14 ESV). Speak the Gospel and lead your little ones to the Lamb of God. Lead them so that they may carry a lighter burden in their lives. Peace!