Little children can teach us so much if we are only willing to open our eyes and hearts. They constantly remind me to be better than I am.
A few weeks ago I spent a week at Maywood Christian Camp. I was about to walk up the steps to the cabin when I saw two little ones coming down the same steps. They were sister and brother. She is about five and he is probably somewhere between two and three years old.
They held hands as they came down the steps toward me. She watched each step, intent on keeping her little brother from falling. He did not pull away from her. They walked down in sync with each other.
He was content to hold her hand. It seemed as if he didn’t have a care in the world. He trusted her lead.
They got almost to the bottom step and he looked up at me. “Soose me” he said as he passed by. No one prompted him - he wasn’t being coached; but he had been taught. His parents were obviously wonderful teachers!
Even at this young age he had learned the importance of courtesy. His older sister had learned the importance of keeping her brother safe and she did a great job!
Wouldn’t the world be a much better place if grown people understood what these two little children already knew? Wouldn’t our church families be stronger if we all took the time to look out for one another?
Shouldn’t we do what the big sister did for her brother? She held his hand to keep him from falling. I was reminded of James 3:20 which says “that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”
Her brother did not pull away from her or tell her she was being bossy or nosy. He accepted her help – in fact, he seemed to welcome it!
It is often difficult to ask for help when we are struggling, but this is why Jesus built the church. He knew we would need help on our life’s journey. It is also why we are told to bear one another’s burdens.
There is no shame in asking for help and it can actually bring great comfort and relief. In James 5:16 we are instructed to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another so that we may be healed. This is all part of loving each other as Christ loved us.
What about the good manners this little fella had? Christians should show the same thoughtfulness toward others. In Philippians 2:3, Paul wrote “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Christ
above all things - Robin
