Holy Things Club
“Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matt 19: 13-14
Tonight my youngest held her first meeting of her Holy Things Club. She gathered all the members in the living room, (included were myself, her father and sister Sydney) and spent the next 20-30 minutes talking about holy things. She had us all bring something holy, so I brought a Bible and read the reading above. Syd brought her first communion doll and Bill played Joan Osborne’s, “One of Us”. Hannah brought a crucifix, an ornament, her great grandmothers rosary and her “halo teddies”. She read a couple of prayers from her prayer book. We all said what we were grateful for, said “amen” and ended the meeting with a happy and contented six year old. This is the second or third club she has created around God. She is always reminding us of the essentials when we forget. Of course she is also the one who stomps away when denied communion. But part of me gets that…she does seem to beyond her years in understanding. Denying communion is just what the disciples did when they rebuked the children. I am doing what Jesus tells me not to do, I am preventing her from getting to him. But I also know that when she does receive communion it will be a wonderfully big moment for her. In addition, I believe that young children have an ability to commune with God on a level that we lose as we grow older. I believe in their innocence and purity they are so much more in tune with the heart of God, as though they still hear the beats. I love that Hannah wants to gather us together to talk about what is most important to her. I love that my husband told her that he “was grateful for a wee one who wanted a club like this.” I think it is great that my ten year old, though reluctant got into the club when it started.Tonight, I want to pray for all of the children. I want to especially remember the ones who suffer from illness, abandonment, loss or fear. I pray for the children of Haiti and hope for a better future for them I pray that I can open my own heart that it be more like that of a child.
