You are very important

Shirley Paulson

Have you ever thought people were too busy to pay attention to you? Maybe Dad was doing something on his computer, Mom was talking on the phone, or your teacher said to be quiet. Maybe sometimes even your best friends don’t want to play with you. You’ve got something important to say, but it seems that they’re acting like you’re not all that important.

Did you know that Jesus thought little kids were really important? One time some children were coming to see him, but some of the adults who were with him said, “No! Go away” (see Luke 18:15–17 ).

They were called “disciples”—people who wanted to follow Jesus and learn from him. They thought Jesus was so important that he shouldn’t be bothered with kids interrupting him.

But Jesus told the disciples to stop getting in the way. He wanted the children to come to him because the kingdom of God belongs to them. That was quite a surprise for the disciples!

They were probably wondering, “Why does Jesus think they’re so important? They’re just children, who haven’t even grown up yet!”

But Jesus told his disciples that if they wanted to know about God’s kingdom, they needed to take another look at the children! It wasn’t about how big they were or if they had adult jobs or even how famous they were. Children are important because they can show all of us the kingdom of God, without being grown up or famous or rich.

That’s why Jesus thought kids were so important. Have you ever thought about how children can show people something about the kingdom of God without being an adult? Here are some examples:

When you’re patient, you’re showing others that God is always there.
When you know what to do, you’re showing people how God guides you.
When you are loving to someone, you’re showing this person how God is loving you, too.

You don’t have to be famous or powerful to do that, do you? Just as you are, you’re a perfect reminder that all our goodness comes from God’s kingdom.

Even if someone is too busy at the moment, you can smile inside, because you know God is telling you how loved you are and how to be good. It’s easier to be patient, when you remember that Jesus said to his disciples, “Let the kids come to me. They’re very important!”

About the author

Shirley Paulson helps kids and adults by praying for them.

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