Jesus Christ sat teaching and people begin to bring their children to him, pressing in, pushing them close. His disciples saw what was happening and quickly pushed back. In the days of Jesus’ ministry on earth children didn’t simply walk up to a Rabbi and hop on his lap. Children occupied a much more vulnerable, humble and marginalized place in society. Jesus quickly called his disciples to stop pushing the children back, Mark 10: 13-16 records one such instance:
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
In the culture of Jesus’ time, children were insignificant, worthy of being pushed away. They weren’t seen as deserving of his time or focus. Yet Jesus turned the tables and encouraged everyone to be like them. To come and sit on his lap, to trust, to have faith.
In the culture of El Salvador, there are children everywhere and once a year there is a holiday just to celebrate them. It’s called Children’s Day and on that day children become the focus, if just for the day.
We mark the day throughout the weeks surrounding the October 1st holiday in our own special way because the people that we serve are much like the children of Jesus’ day. They are often the ones who are pushed back from climbing onto his lap. But we believe that he wants to speak to them, to hold them and to welcome them in.
Our adult clients who come to the Lighthouse love to celebrate Children’s Day because many of them had a childhood marred by El Salvador’s Civil War, by abuse and neglect, by gang violence and by the horrors of trauma and deep poverty. There was no time for parties and piñatas or for the innocent games of childhood. So we celebrate them with games and cake and candy.
We also have another specific celebration with the mothers in our project for survivors of trafficking , commercial sex, and violence. Many of these precious children began life in unimaginable ways but we want to celebrate the beauty of life, their smiles and the wonderful ways that God brings healing into impossible places.
In the New Dawn Residential Program, we celebrate with youth in recovery who are going through the difficult job of facing down addictions and trauma but are still kids who want to play games and go out for burgers. They are shouldering heavy burdens but they are kids too.
Another place we celebrated was in the community where our health clinic is located. Families who make a living cutting coffee plants, who struggle to get buy, and who deal with flooded dirt floors and cook over open flames rarely take time to just celebrate the joy of family. Together we can do this with them.
Celebrating those on the margins is what we think Jesus is calling us to do. This is part of being his disciples. Following him means saying yes to bringing those on the edges right inside to sit on his lap no matter how old they are or what kind of pain might be holding them back. We want to be a part of his family on earth who makes this calling our daily work. On Children’s Day and every day.
