In this season of the coronavirus pandemic, there are so many adults talking. So many projections and statistics, so much advice and expertise – and this is mostly right and good, many of the voices well-meaning, well-informed, and truly helpful.
As an adult, I realize that I am adding my voice to the din. If you’ll bear with me, though, remember that my hope in this blog is to make room for all the different parts of ourselves to experience the hope that Jesus offers us in real and beautiful relationship with him. I find that for myself, it is often the young, child-like parts that struggle the most. And yet, it is to precisely these most precious and vulnerable ones that Jesus directs his particular care, protection, and praise.
“And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you…whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.'”
Matthew 18:2-6, ESV
What if, in the midst of all these adult voices, we chose to invite and cultivate the voices of children?
I think that the voices of children – and the younger parts of ourselves – often go unheard. But we know that this is not the case with the Lord Jesus. I imagine that he hears the infant’s cry lifted up in her moment of need in the night. He inhabits the toddler’s quietness of concentration and presence that needs no words. He delights to hear stumbling, broken babble of misshapen vowels and clanking consonants. He sings in the sound, the word, or the phrase repeated again and again and again. He willingly wanders the paths of chats that twist and tangle in stories told twice, jokes without punchlines, and sentences that go on for days.
If you are a child and the prayer below somehow finds you, I pray that it will be to you a reminder that the Lord Jesus longs and loves to hear your voice.
If you are caring for a child, this prayer is an offering to you – might it be a place to start if you are feeling stuck, a place of rest if you are feeling weary, and a place of hope as you hear the praise of this child make strong the kingdom of God.
If you are an adult, this prayer is an invitation to make some room for the younger parts of yourself, the voices that perhaps have not yet had a hearing – with Jesus, allow these precious and most vulnerable parts to say their piece without provocation, to lift their voices in safety, and to receive the care they need as they come and speak to him.
some words to hold
Jesus, you are the listener, you always hear me when I talk to you. Many people are sick. You are the doctor, your hands make sick people well. Many people feel afraid. You are the hero, you defeat our enemies. Many people are alone. You are our friend, you fill our hearts up with love. Jesus, you are always brave. Please give us courage to be kind to others.
If you’d like to continue on this journey with me, please sign up below to get email updates when I post something new. I am very grateful for the time you give to reading these, and would be glad to hear any feedback or comments you have about how we can risk a next, slow step toward Jesus together.
– Amanda
connectinghope.art 