The Little Children Came

I treasure my alone time and was settling into a quiet Sunday. Most people had left the Mission after lunch and I was looking forward to being still and seeking God in a quiet moment. But that’s not where He wanted to meet me today. As I sat in my room thinking about how hot it was I heard the children downstairs making all kinds of noise. My first thought was, “Of course it would be now, when it was so close to being quiet. There really never is a quiet moment here.” But I decided to make the best of it and opened my Bible. But I began to notice, this wasn’t a passing chaotic noise; there was drumming and clapping and I started picking out the works of Creole praise songs. I peaked over my balcony and saw all the kids packed into their tiny hallway singing and dancing with everything they had. I didn’t want to break up the moment by interrupting so I thanked God for it and want back in my room only to be drawn out again, this time by louder drumming, singing, and praise. The sound had moved under the chacoun, where we eat. As I walked over to sneak another peak I found myself tearing up as I heard the familiar worship songs and the shouts of Alleluia! I looked down and looked on a scene that stole my heart (if it wasn’t already completely gone). All of the children, aged two to seventeen were sitting at our tables facing our little platform where Ansen (one of the neighbor kids who helps us at the Mission) was preaching up a storm, complete with “Alleluia’s” and “Amen’s”! They caught me peeking and invited me down for the rest of the church service. There was preaching, three of our girls sang to us, Adelson closed us all in prayer and we all shook hands as we left. This will definitely be one of sweetest and most memorable moments of my time here.

I’m reminded of Jesus words, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Luke 18:16-17) How wonderful that these kids have spent so much time with God and in God’s church that it flows into their play. They are so familiar with the family of God that they worship for fun. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then they are starting off with admirable role models. These children have had the opportunity to come to God and it’s with the same innocence and I would say the same sense of playing that we are to come to God; not that we should be pretending but that we should be participating because it’s something we want to do. You don’t play things that aren’t fun. Lord, grant us the innocence to come before you and worship before you joyfully, with all the enthusiasm of your youngest children at play.