My daughter is 20 months old and LOVES color!
We are fortunate enough to live across from a park that is full of fun for a toddler. Every day we have a routine that she has to follow. First, we walk across the bridge. Second, we go to the swings. Third, we go to the slide. And finally end our time by walking up and down the steps to the gazebo before going home.
I enjoy watching her explore her surroundings with more and more confidence every time we are there. But its what she does between each “routine activity” that I love the most. Due to a very wet December and January, the park is covered in color. Bright purples and yellows stretch out in every direction creating a feast for the eyes, if you can see them. You see, they are the blooms that have come up in the middle of weeds. It takes my older eyes much longer to focus on the color and not on the weeds that have spread over the park (and across my own yard).
I believe Jesus would be able to see the color much quicker than I do. I believe this fact is a teachable moment for me and maybe for you as well.
I think Jesus knew a lot about weeds and the flowers that show up around them. Only he didn’t call them weeds and flowers; he called them children.
Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” And he laid his hands on them and went on his way (Matthew 19:13-15).
This may seem harsh to call our students weeds. But if we are honest, we all have a few students that we wish paid more attention in class or better understood and appreciated what we were trying to do for them. In other words, they are “weedish” in their behavior. But regardless of their behavior, Jesus wants these kids close to him and maybe wants them pulled closer than the kids that are less “weedish.” Jesus doesn’t see a kid who can’t sit still or remember what was said last week. He sees a colorful, creative kid full of potential his Kingdom.
What a blessing that He has entrusted these “weeds,” I mean students to us! (I’m afraid of what he would tell me when I get frustrated by them, but that’s for another blog post).
My prayer is that we will embrace the weeds in our youth groups with the same enthusiasm that you do for the flowers. Let’s start by making noticing, like Jesus does, the students in our group part of our daily routine of youth ministry.
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