Not "Just Kids!"

"Walk This Way" Reflection Week 8

Readings: Leviticus 19:32 & Matthew 19:13-14

One of my many joy-filled photos of young people at our church.

Several months ago, I received a voicemail message from a high school youth in our church. Amidst the many beautiful and kind things in that message, she said, “I just wanted you to know I’m praying for you, and I love you, and I know we’re just kids, but if you need anything, we’re here for you.” 

Yes, the main words that grabbed me were those of love and prayer, but also the words “we’re just kids.” When I responded to her message, I told her that I NEVER think of her and the other youth as “just kids.” I told her they are powerful prayer warriors and faith-filled, incredible humans whom I have simply been one hundred percent blessed by God to have in my life. That is who they are. Yes, young people are fun and wild sometimes, but they are also incredibly authentic and real, and when you get to know them, you can’t help but love them, in my opinion. 

This past Sunday, the gospel reading was from Matthew 19:13-14, which says this:

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. 

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 

How wonderful is that! 

In her message on Sunday, Pastor Chamie mentioned that this act of Jesus welcoming the children in this way was more than just a nice, fuzzy moment. She reminded us that during this time in Greco-Roman history, children were barely looked at as people. Their worth was founded in what they would become, rather than who they were. Jesus radically called this out and showed that children were to be valued as they are NOW, not for who they might later become.

Similarly, this week’s Old Testament reading in Leviticus 19:32 says, “Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord.”  This verse clearly states how we are to treat the elderly, and when read alongside the passage in Matthew, it’s clear that in our walk as Christians, we need to care for the young and the old. 

I loved Pastor Chamie's analogy of caring for the “bookends.” Just like bookends hold up the books that are in between them, caring for the bookends of the younger and older generations will ensure a strong church community.

As always in this “Walk This Way” series, each message seems to seamlessly flow from the previous week’s message. In my reflection last week, I mentioned several of the many examples in the Bible where Jesus SEES, Jesus KNOWS, and Jesus LOVES in response. We see the same thing here in Matthew as Jesus sees the children for who they are and responds in love. So this reminds me that if I am to walk in the way of Jesus, I again need to actually SEE others for who they are, as children of God, both young and old, with value and purpose right now. 

This past week, I had the joy of my daughter and son-in-law visiting for the week, and it just so happened that during their time with us, we did two things that reminded me of the value of seeing people, no matter the age, for who they are. One of these instances was a conversation we had at dinner about generations. We talked about the taglines and stereotypes each generation seems to have. For example, there’s the Greatest Generation, the Silent Generation, the Boomers, Gen-X, the Millennials, Gen Z, and the current youngest groups, Gen Alpha and Gen Beta.  A quick internet search provides plenty of information on what each one is known for and what makes each one culturally and socially unique.  As a Gen Xer, I jokingly mentioned in our conversation that I loved it when I read that my generation was also nicknamed the “Invisible Generation,” or the “Forgotten Generation,” or the “Nothing Generation,” apparently because we haven’t contributed much to society! I felt much better when I read later that this isn’t true, reading that Gen Xers do contribute, but had been coined with those “nothing” terms mainly because of being a smaller group between the much larger population of Boomers and Millennials.

 As we talked, we joked about the stereotypes of each generation and also noted what seemed good and true about each one. But what I found most valuable in my family’s conversation was the willingness to see and understand what each generation has experienced and is experiencing. It seems important to listen and know what each group thinks and feels, rather than acting as if one generation is better or less than another. For example, when someone is negatively brushed off as being one of “those millennials”  or one of “those Gen Zers” or “Boomers” or “Nothingers”, then it doesn’t seem like they’re being truly seen or valued. Yes, knowing some of the societal reasons why each group is different can be helpful. It can provide understanding and open up conversation. But it shouldn’t box any age group into a category that shuts them out or keeps them from being valued by another group. If this happens, then aren’t we being just like the disciples who thought the children were bothering Jesus?

My other reminder last week of the value of those younger and older “bookends” came when we all sat and looked at old family photos. That’s always a fun time, and this time I was really touched by the diverse generations represented in one box of pictures. One picture has my grandmother, me, and my son when he was born. Other photos show my sister and me with our great-grandmother, our grandmother, and aunts and uncles. These all reminded me of how much time I spent as a child with people significantly older than me, and how much love they showed me from my early childhood on into my teen and adult years.  They modeled the love of Jesus to me.

As I reflect on those words of Jesus, “For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children,” I can’t help but think of all the incredible young and older people God has placed in my life, both in my own family and in my church family. Those words in that voicemail message from a high school youth are one of many conversations that I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy. Some of my most meaningful and deep spiritual conversations have been with youth or young adults who are simply being themselves. Similarly, some of the wisest words and meaningful stories have come from those older than me. And all the ages in between? Of course, those can’t be forgotten. Every single person, of every age, is unique, and I pray I will always see each of them for who they are, right now, the way Jesus would want me to see and love. 

Journaling Ideas:

• Copy the verses from Leviticus 19:32 and Matthew 19:13-14. What stands out to you? What might God be saying to you in these passages?

• Who are some younger or older people in your life whom you value? Write a prayer of thanks for them and a prayer for God’s protection over them. 

• Who are some people, younger or older, that you can reach out to? Write a prayer asking for God’s direction and guidance in reaching out to them or in serving them in some way, and listen for his answer and leading.

• Break out some old photos and write about the memories they hold. What do you cherish about these moments and the people in the pictures?