1 Samuel 16:7b – The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (NIV)

During my teaching career, I worked with many children, from the cognitively impaired to the most nimble-minded of students. As God allowed, the entire range of children had strengths and weaknesses. I am familiar and comfortable with children, because the Lord prepared my heart to develop an appropriate sensitivity for each one. This was a great blessing in a recent encounter.

Matthew 19:14 – Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (NIV)

Recently, our church had several baptisms, and the attendance in our congregation surged as extra friends and family arrived. After a lovely service and the last prayer, I walked toward the exit. A young person with dark curly hair and a slight build, whose age I couldn't determine, came toward me. When our eyes met, I smiled at her and said, "Hello."

She reached out and touched my face and said, "Soft." Then she touched my sweater at the shoulder and said, "Soft." I agreed with her. Then she asked, "Colour?" I looked down at my sweater and responded, "Plum." As though practicing the word, she repeated it several times as she walked on by.

I was deeply touched, and I wanted to know her name, but she quickly disappeared into the crowd. During the few moments when we connected, it seemed like time stopped. Every anxiety, pressure, and stress fell away from my mind as my attention directly focused on her. After a few days of inquiry about who she was, we decided that she must have been one of the visitors — but nobody knew her name.

As we mature, the hardness of the world often makes our hearts less sensitive toward others. Children, in their innocence, are open and honest, and live in the moment. I realized, once again, that as my life had become more focused on purpose, God was calling me to slow down, to sort my priorities, and to open my heart. I believe that He sent this girl into my life to bring me back to the moment.

Even though I don't know her name, Jesus does. He allowed this sunbeam of grace to shine on my heart for a moment. Think of a time when you have received unexpected attention from a child. When you feel the need to get in touch with your heart again, pray, and then wait for Him to bring someone your way. Recall the memory of a time when your heart was touched for an instant that you know came directly from the heart of God. Let's slow down, sort our priorities, and open our hearts!

Prayer: Dear Father, we thank You for the times of joy from Your loving kindness when we reach out to communicate with a child. Thank You for knowing who to bring into our lives. You told us to welcome these little ones, knowing that a blessing would be shared, from one to the other, always to Your honour and glory. Amen.

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About the author:

Karen Milam <karenbmilam@gmail.com>
Penn Valley, California, USA
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