At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-5
This month we were placed at Santa Clara school. The school is a private catholic bilingual school. It includes grades preschool to 6th grade. With two classes per grade there were around 490 kids in the elementary. All the teachers wear ridiculously green polos everyday. We had the opportunity to participate with them this month past month. This month was a difficult one for Sculptors Seven. We had a hard time adjusting to teaching and relations ministry opposed to manual labor, which is what we have been doing the past 2 months.
I spent my month in the preschool wing working with the four and five year olds. Out of the six preschool classrooms I spent time in five of them. This meant at any given moment I could have 120 kids run up screaming my name and tackling me with hugs. These kids are wonderful. These kids were bad. These kids taught me more than I taught them. They taught me the importance of making someone feel loved. By watching them I learned more about what child-like faith looks like.
So become like a child? What is Jesus talking about? What does that look like?
This is what it looked like with the kids in my classroom.
It means when I told them what their new vocabulary words are and corrected them when they pronounce it wrong, they didn’t argue with me.
When I told them it is time to come inside from recess they all lined up without having to question what time it was.
When I moved their desk away from a friend, they didn’t try to move it back. They knew I had the authority to do what I saw best.
When I upset them by punishing them, they still gave me a hug at the end of they day and told me they loved me.
Do we do this? Do we trust God so fully that we do not question what he is doing in our lives? Probably not.
Isaiah 29:16
Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,
that the thing made should say of its maker,
“He did not make me”;
or the thing formed say of him who formed it,
“He has no understanding”?
Isaiah 55: 8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Why do we assume we know things that the Lord God, maker of heaven and earth does not? Why do we question what he is doing in our lives?
School is over at 2:45. But that does not mean we are free. As we climb on the bus kids start screaming, “Miss! Sit here Miss!” “Miss, do you want to play tic-tac-toe?” “Miss, do you have a boyfriend?” “Do you like spaghetti?” “What is your favorite color miss?” The questions are endless.
Luke 18:15-17 tells the story of the little children coming to Jesus. Jesus calls them over to him and rebukes the disciples saying, “let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” These kids just wanted to be around Jesus. I’m sure they asked questions and told stories and wanted more than anything to be close to him. Just like the children from Santa Clara, they desired a relationship. They want more than anything to be near to him. They want to know him.
Is that our desire, to surround ourselves with Jesus all the time?
Probably not.
These kids reminded me what it looks like to be a kid again; of simple unaffected joy and eagerness to learn and try, regardless of failure. They taught me what innocent love looks like and kindness without self motive. I may have taught these kids this month. But they also taught me.
