Article February 19, 1990 Issue

Threatening little boy? Or child of God?

Stereotypes about boys—that they are destructive and incorrigible—need to be broken. A spiritual vision of children is the way.

Written for the Sentinel

Sentinel

When my daughter was about five years old, she played with a little boy who lived a few doors away. For reasons that I could not explain to myself, I did not want her to play with him. He was a bright child, clean and good; yet I hoped he would stay out of our yard and away from my daughter.

This strange and unfair attitude continued for several weeks. I knew that it was wrong, and it wasn't a question of race or anything like that. But my mind appeared to be made up: I didn't like that little boy at all. One day, after sending him away from our door, I stood and condemned myself again for my unloving ways. What was wrong with me? Why couldn't I love this child? Why didn't I like any of the little boys that my daughter played with? The answers seemed to be hidden from me.

Painfully I remembered the words of Christ Jesus "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."^{ Matt. 18:10.} These words made me feel great guilt and discomfort.