Every evening we tackle new villages, walking the narrow, winding dirt roads from hut to hut. We pray for the believers and encourage them with scripture. Along the way we always seem to gather a following of small, dark eyed children. They want to know our names, hold our hands, and just giggle about how funny we look. More than anything, they just want to be near us.
This apparently is not appropriate here in India. The adults shoe them away. They scold them harshly and tell them to go home. Not because they do not want the children to be around us, but they do not want the children to bother or irritate us. It does not matter how much we plead or try to convince the locals that it is no problem, the same thing happens night after night.
I am reminded of Jesus’ experience with children. They surrounded him several times in scripture. Their goal was just to be in his presence. But this did not go over well with the disciples and they would work hard to make the children leave. Jesus’ response…
“Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” – Luke 18:16
Jesus loved the children. He never wanted them to leave. They were an important part of his ministry too.
I have had to consciously ask myself the cliché question, ‘What would Jesus do?,’ every night. Should I ignore the warnings that the adults give and play with the children anyway? A huge part of me feels like this is what Jesus would do. Not to spite or anger anyone, but because he really did see that they had just as much value and importance as adults.
So my intention for the final few days that I have left here in India? To love the way that Jesus did. To walk in his footsteps by doing what I believe is right and valuing everyone equally. To treasure these children the way I think Jesus would if he were here.
“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold to the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” – James 2:1
