Sinabi ni Jesus, “Hayaan ninyong lumapit sa akin ang mga bata. Huwag ninyo silang pagbawalan sapagkat ang mga katulad nila ang mapapabilang sa kaharian ng langit.”

Mateo 19:14

Madalas, kahit hindi natin sinasadya, may tendency tayo to overlook, ignore, or forget about children — even if we are parents! Baka kasi busy tayo o may ginagawa tayo at nakakaabala lang ang mga bata. One time, may mga magulang na lumapit kay Jesus para ipa-bless ang mga anak nila (Luke 18:15–17; Matthew 19:13–15). Ngunit pinagalitan sila ng mga disciple. Baka maingay o makulit ang mga bata (infants, in some translations) kaya nagalit ang disciples. O baka naisip nila na may mas important tasks si Jesus na kailangang gawin at dapat hindi Siya istorbohin ng mga bata. Whatever reason the disciples had, it did not matter, because Jesus called the children to come to Him. “Hayaan ninyong lumapit sa akin ang mga bata,” He said, and He blessed them.

Jesus acknowledged children, and even honored them by using a child as an example of how we should be (Mark 10:13–16). Bilang mga believer, si Jesus ang model natin on how to treat little ones. At kung titignan natin ang ating church history, Christians had a reputation for taking care of and defending children. Nowadays, maraming faith-based NGOs that focus on caring for and protecting children.

We were all children once, and there are many things we can learn from children even now, as adults. When was the last time that you really paid attention to a child, or talked to one, heart to heart?