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The Thin Place

Can We Welcome Jesus? The Importance of Extending Hospitality Towards Children

A few weeks ago, my little brother came over for his first sleepover.

He probably won’t remember that day.

He probably won’t remember that he tried marmalade sandwiches because that’s what Paddington loves.

He probably won’t remember making brownies or having a picnic with the dogs or staying up too late listening to stories.

Even if he never remembers the details, I believe it still mattered deeply.

It matters because, one day, I hope he looks back and knows from his earliest memories that he was always welcome in this home.

And that welcome he experienced when he was here was a welcome in the Name of Christ that shows him how he is loved by God.

Last week, I read a post about someone who was handed a card during worship, thanking them for having their child in church, but asking them to leave so that the child did not disturb the other worshippers.

My heart broke for the little ones and their parents, but it also broke for the church and the loss of blessing that they needed.

Welcoming little children matters.

It sets the stage for how they feel the Church accepts them and for how they feel accepted by Christ.

Welcoming little children matters. It sets the stage for how they feel the Church accepts them and for how they feel accepted by Christ.  Click To Tweet

Jesus said when we welcome these little ones, we welcome Him.

“And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,  ‘Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.’” – Mark 9:36-37, ESV

Loving little ones is one of the primary ways we can show we love Jesus. He told us that the way we treat them, is the way we treat Him. When we are annoyed, when we answer sharply, when we refused to be inconvenienced, we reject the Son of God.

They may not remember the details, but little ones remember how we make them feel. And at church above all, they need to know they are loved and wanted.

Children are not just the “Church of Tomorrow,” they are a vital part of the Church today. 

Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. -Psalm 8:2, ESV

We need them in our midst on Sunday mornings. We need them in our homes. And when they are told no, pushed to the side, or quickly and quietly ushered out the back door, they remember.

And Jesus grieves.

“Let the Little Children Come” - Welcoming Jesus as we Welcome Children #devotional #kids #church #worship #christianity #christian Do We Welcome Jesus? The Importance of Extending Hospitality Towards Children #kids #church #family #christian #christianity “Let the Little Children Come” - Welcoming Jesus as we Welcome Children #devotional #kids #church #worship #christianity #christian Do We Welcome Jesus? The Importance of Extending Hospitality Towards Children #kids #church #family #christian #christianity Do We Welcome Jesus? The Importance of Extending Hospitality Towards Children #kids #church #family #christian #christianity “Let the Little Children Come” - Welcoming Jesus as we Welcome Children #devotional #kids #church #worship #christianity #christian Do We Welcome Jesus? The Importance of Extending Hospitality Towards Children #kids #church #family #christian #christianity “Let the Little Children Come” - Welcoming Jesus as we Welcome Children #devotional #kids #church #worship #christianity #christian Do We Welcome Jesus? The Importance of Extending Hospitality Towards Children #kids #church #family #christian #christianity

“Let the Little Children Come” - Welcoming Jesus as we Welcome Children #devotional #kids #church #worship #christianity #christian

We need to embrace these little ones as we would embrace Christ. 

What if instead of simply tolerating children until we could reason with them, we modeled for them how to worship and let them model for us the beautiful, childlike-faith that Christ said was necessary to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?

What if instead of simply tolerating children until we could reason with them, we modeled for them how to worship and let them model for us the beautiful, childlike-faith that Christ said was necessary to enter the Kingdom of… Click To Tweet

Can we show the little ones in our midst that they matter, both in our homes and in our churches?

Sometimes, hospitality looks grand. Other times, it looks like spontaneously inviting your *almost* 3-year-old brother over for his first “fleepover” and offering your messy house, brownies, Paddington Bear, and lots of love.

Little ones need hospitality too. Let’s not forget them.

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The Comments

  • crystalreavis
    September 28, 2018

    Wow this is beautifully written and so very true! It grieves my heart the church isn’t welcoming children, how unfortunate for them! Thank you for writing what needed to be written! I not only shared and subscribed but followed you because you’re amazing!

    Reply
    • Bailey
      crystalreavis
      September 29, 2018

      It is so heartbreaking for both the children and the church. Thank you for sharing and following!

      Reply
  • Lovingourmessy
    September 28, 2018

    I completely agree. Our Church has a very welcoming policy about children (and the beautiful noise that comes with them!). Our priest always says that the future of the Church is dead without children. SO true!

    Reply
    • Bailey
      Lovingourmessy
      September 29, 2018

      That’s so wonderful! It’s true that a quiet church is a dying church.

      Reply
  • Carli Ann Roberts
    September 28, 2018

    This was an amazing read. My heart also broke when I saw that card about kids leaving church. I would have left the church and never come back. My job as a mom is to model Christ so my baby will know how to love Him too.

    Reply
    • Bailey
      Carli Ann Roberts
      September 29, 2018

      It is so sad. I hope that we can change the narrative and help the return of embracing children.

      Reply
  • Colleen Mitchell
    September 29, 2018

    This was actually the topic for the sermon at my church last week. Every couple weeks my pastor invites all the kids up to the front for a Children’s Message. It’s sad to me when I see churches packed with older people and very few young’uns because of the exact reasons you talk about here. I remember when I was a kid and made a fuss in church my mom took us out to the Cry Room – which had an audio feed from the sanctuary. While I don’t love it when kids make noise and fuss in church I also know that they’re the ones who need to be there most. Turning kids away is the last thing churches should do.

    Reply
    • Bailey
      Colleen Mitchell
      September 29, 2018

      That’s so good that your church is so embracing of children! I’ve found that sending them away is the default in most churches. So sad.

      Reply
  • annemarkey1
    September 29, 2018

    I am so thankful that the church we attend welcome families and children in the services. Sunday’s are hard, but my husband and I keep going because we know how important it is to show our children church and consistency. We also make sure to include Christ in our day to day. When they are mad or sad we pray together. When we are thankful we pray together. These seem like small things but it helps our children learn to go to Jesus for everything.

    Reply
    • Bailey
      annemarkey1
      October 4, 2018

      That is so wonderful. I know it’s hard but you have to trust that God is using the local church, and your commitment to your children being involved, in their life.

      Reply
  • Shan Walker (@shanGURUwalker)
    September 29, 2018

    I love that you church embraces children so readily. Our staff says that our youth group is not the church of tomorrow – they are the church now and fully includes the teens in many ways that are typically off limits to them. I love it. 😉

    Reply
    • Bailey
      Shan Walker (@shanGURUwalker)
      October 4, 2018

      That’s so wonderful!

      Reply
  • kage2015
    October 2, 2018

    Our church loves the children. It is all about families. The children aren’t sent off during sacrament meetings they stay and learn with the parents. Sure your little brother will remember more than what you think.

    Reply
    • Bailey
      kage2015
      October 4, 2018

      That’s so wonderful that the children are included in the sacraments.

      Reply
  • Lisa Tanner
    October 2, 2018

    Such great thoughts here. As a society it truly seems like children are just something to tolerate until they’re “real people.” It makes me sad for kids out there who never feel welcomed or loved, like they’re just a burden. Let’s love the children and point them to Christ!

    And I love the ideas you suggest for easy ways to extend hospitality to the little ones in our mix.

    Reply
    • Bailey
      Lisa Tanner
      October 4, 2018

      It is so sad that we view children as almost “pre-human,” even in the church, when Christ put such a high value on them.

      Reply
  • Shan Walker (@shanGURUwalker)
    October 2, 2018

    Wow! What a beautiful sentiment. How precious you are – and you are exactly right. Children are gifts from the Lord and we shouldn’t simply tolerate them. I love this so much. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Bailey
      Shan Walker (@shanGURUwalker)
      October 4, 2018

      That are such a gift to our churches!

      Reply
  • Nicole Kauffman
    October 3, 2018

    These pictures are adorable! Great post!

    Reply
    • Bailey
      Nicole Kauffman
      October 4, 2018

      Thanks, Nicole!

      Reply
  • freestylesmile
    October 11, 2018

    Amazing!

    Reply
  • freestylesmile
    October 11, 2018

    When I was young I soaked in the times that I had with friends and family and a lot of that makes up who I am. I don’t forget how lovingly I was treated or the way kitchens smelled in each home. It is so important to instill at a young age the love of Jesus Christ into our families.

    Reply
    • Bailey
      freestylesmile
      October 12, 2018

      That’s so wonderful. <3 It is so important to instill that at a young age.

      Reply
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Hello, I’m Bailey
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Hello, I’m Bailey

The Thin Place was born out of a season of struggle. A season where I felt stretched thin and desperately longed to see the goodness of God in the land of the living. The goodness of God showed up in unexpected ways. During that season, the spiritual disciplines laid out in Scripture, the traditions of the Church, and the reminders of His faithfulness seen in liturgial living and the feasts and seasons of the Church calendar all opened my eyes to the hope we have in Christ.

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