I'm preaching this Sunday.
This is my first sermon--that is, if you don't count all the lessons prepared for campers and middle school students, talks to camp staff and high school clubs, and that one time I was asked to speak to a group of Nigerian college students for an hour-and-a-half the night before we left the Plateau--so I was glad to hear that I was able to pick a passage of the Bible that pumps me up.
As I've been preparing what I am going to say about my two great passions (Jesus and Kids; referencing Matthew 19:13-15) I have had an overwhelming amount of personal reflection and emotion. Which I'm sure is true for any preacher, but, seeing as this is my first time and all, I wasn't anticipating the mental breaks required to sing and laugh and blog.
It has been great. And tiring.
As I read through commentaries and pray and discern what this part of Jesus' life means for my own, I am completely taken with this one truth:
Jesus placed his hands on kids' heads.
Most scholars agree it was a Jewish custom for a parent to take their young ones to the Temple to be blessed by a person of spiritual significance. That person would bless the child by placing their hand on the little head and reciting Scripture or a prayer or whatever words they thought sounded best. Then the parent(s) would thank the spiritual man (women weren't holding those roles yet) and take their kid back to the car and promise them McDonald's for not crying or sticking out their tongue.
Jesus also placed his hands on kids' heads.
As parents brought their children to Jesus to be blessed they got a talking to from his followers. The disciples told the adults to (in the words of JoJo) Leave [Get Out]. That might be because kids are not as clean and can be loud and don't understand theology and are sometimes super annoying. Or because they thought Jesus didn't have time for crying babies in all the highly-spiritual work that had to be done.
But Jesus took those kids and put his hand on their head.
Jesus blessed those children more than the religious leaders when he touched their head.
His blessing was more than recited words.
It was an act of undiluted love.
Because Jesus loves kids.
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I am fortunate to have parents who love me and desire to see me get blessed in life. I am equally fortunate to have people outside of my family who love me and desire to see me get blessed in life.
But I think I am most fortunate to have had both of those things present as a young child.
There were (and still are) people in my life who have filled the role of Rabbi in placing their hand of blessing upon my blond curly head. People who were able to see past my young age, my lisp when I spoke, my moments of sassiness, my inexperience. People who said I had a talent for singing and speaking, the ability to work with kids younger than myself, a knack for telling funny jokes and good stories.
As I read this passage over and over I become more thankful for the people that were Jesus' hand in my life as a child. My parents brought me forward, hoping for a blessing to be extended, and there were people that followed through. And I can't go on any longer without giving them a proper typed-out Thank You.
So, in no particular order (and knowing that I will unintentionally leave out of dozens who should be on this list) Thank You to:
Karen Mussleman for showing me how to love Sunday School.
Debi Ruud for training my voice to sing loud and clear.
Jen Plantenberg for giving me my first camp experience as a camper and years later as a staff member.
Val Hannemann, Char Cole, and Doob Jessup for allowing me to help kids when I was still a kid.
Chris and Francois Doyle for instilling a desire and ability to dance.
Mrs. Acree for teaching me how to speak in front of an audience.
Willie Nolte for always pointing me to Jesus.
You all helped me become the woman I am today. And that woman is much cooler because of it.
This week I hope to instill the same desire to bless in our adults at North Fresno Church, all of us who are trying to be more like Jesus but sometimes end up looking like his disciples. I hope we can not be afraid of letting our youngest lead and will instead walk alongside them. I hope we can really look for the talents in the sons and daughters growing up around us and remind them of what they have. I hope we can encourage the parents who are holding their children out for a blessing.
I hope we can do good things for the kids who are looking for a hand.
...Both literally and figuratively.
Jesus loves kids.
So should we.
