MATTHEW 18:1-7
I was recently reading through the Gospel of Matthew and I paused at chapter 18,
…“Woe to any of you who put a stumbling block before one of these little ones…” and
“Occasions for stumbling are bound to come but woe to the one by whom it comes.”
Those words took me back in time.
When had I been a stumbling block to a child? Far too often, I’m afraid, when I
was a young parent. I became a stumbling block to my own little ones when I was too
tired, when I was carrying too much responsibility, or when I felt too unsupported myself.
When I was twenty-six, I had one child, a part-time job and a difficult marriage. I
wasn’t the best parent. And then it got worse. I gave birth to our second child and she
had a serious case of colic. My husband had landed a good job, but it took him on the
road all the time. Exhausted, I struggled with post-partum depression. And then it got
worse. I conceived our third child and was sick for months, only to see my marriage
end. By the time I was thirty, I had three little kids – ages 5, 3 and 1 – and was a newly
minted single parent. It’s a wonder that we all lived through it.
First Christian Church of Silverton, Oregon was a haven of love and support. I
needed the teachings of Jesus so much in those days. For example, I heard words like
these: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter
the kingdom of heaven.” This harried mother needed to hear those words. I needed
to hear Jesus say that children mattered to him and they should matter to me. I needed
to be reminded that they weren’t just mouths to be fed, or noses to be wiped, or bodies
to be clothed, or minds to be educated. They were precious children of God and were
of value in their own right.
Now, I’m a grandparent. Despite the fact that I’m much older, I’m not nearly as
tired or stressed as I used to be. I’m able now to step back and appreciate the wonder
of each grandchild. Remembering my own difficulties, I’m able to be gentle with other
harried parents. I remind myself that my example might be the only Bible a frustrated
parent might ever read, and I recommit myself to modeling Jesus’ way.
I’ve been a stumbling block to my own children. Now, it is a privilege and a responsibility
to be the best grandparent, pastor, friend and neighbor I can be to other
little ones. Jesus is giving me another chance to get it right and to show a troubled
world a better way.
Prayer: God of second chances, thank you for reminding me to love your children,
remembering that I might be the only bible that the people in my life read.
Amen.
Heather Hennessey serves as pastor of First Christian Church of
Redding.