The Gift of Childhood

      "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 18:10).

      Perhaps it is because I do not fully understand this statement that I find it so intriguing. This passage has served as the primary text for the concept of guardian angels. I think it falls short of establishing such, but it certainly indicates a child’s interests are the concern of the heavenly hosts.

      Childhood is a fascinating state of being. Childhood has a perfection that old age, maturity, youth, and even infancy do not. No one wants a baby to stay a baby. No one wants a teen-ager to stay a teen-ager. These are times of passing from one thing to another. Of course, childhood is too. Yet, if other parents are like me, they have sometimes harbored the secret wish to keep their energetic, scampering, innocent and carefree little ones about them forever.

      Our Lord pointed out children as examples of God’s kingdom. There are obviously qualities there required in all who would enter that heavenly domain. There exists in the child a teachableness, an excitement, a trust, a simplicity. Who among us has not secretly sighed, "Time, O time, turn back in thy flight, and make me a child again, just for tonight"?

      There are some things that we can know. For one, God is greatly concerned for children. People need to understand that in this day of abortion, broken homes, court-ordered visitation, educational experimentation, violent and sexual video games and child abuse. Our society is doing its best to disturb this precious stage of childhood. This may be our age’s supreme wickedness.

      This generation has lost its respect for childhood. Rather than keeping childhood uncontaminated and maintaining its purity as long as possible, parents push their little ones into adolescence and situations they are not equipped to handle. Such is characteristic of a society that desires darkness rather than light and is bent on destroying the loveliest things of life.

      Much of what passes for education today does nothing to prepare the child for the duties of life. What good will it do if our children are stuffed with book learning if they don’t know how to live and get along in the world?

      Would the Savior say, looking at today’s children, "Except you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven"? (Matt. 18:3). Was he referring to undisciplined brats when He said, "In heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father..." I’m just asking. What must the angels think about the children who are carted off to be with this parent for a time and then that parent?

      Let us remember that God sent His Son to this planet in the body of a child. He allowed that childhood to be lived in a loving home unburdened by duties of adult life.

      What a wonderful blessing is childhood. I am made a better man by the presence of my children’s children. But this world becomes intolerable when children are corrupted. Oh that we might know the gift of childhood simplicity and innocence. "Of such is the kingdom of heaven." It is the sweetest picture on earth while it lasts.

Ken Green