Hi
Several years ago it was not uncommon to refer to someone else as a botheration (bothersome). Once, on a visit with family members a little girl insisted to her cousin; ‘Cho! Don’t bother me rations no’.
It was funny to hear those words from a child, although it’s not always as funny to know that our children face harm of any kind. This international children’s day let’s hHear Jesus’ thoughts as we meditate on today’s Holy Nougat
“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.”Matthew 18:6 NRSV
So, despite the adage that children should be seen and not heard, it is not cool for us to be the source of their trauma or discomfort or discouragement. They may be corrected and disciplined certainly; but this must occur in gentleness and with the awareness that they also have lots to teach us, and sometimes need to correct us when we are misguided.
This may require a reorientation of our current views on children
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
