Children

People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. “Let these children alone. Don’t get between them and me. These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.”

Luke 18:15-17 (The Message)

Reading to young children is proven to improve cognitive skills and help along the process of cognitive development. … When you begin reading aloud to your child, it essentially provides them with background knowledge on their young world, which helps them make sense of what they see, hear, and read                                                                                                                                                               (all4kids.org)

We had the opportunity to care for our two youngest grandchildren this past weekend. The stage of having grandchildren is a great time of life, and having the opportunity to get to know them and love on them is extra special. We took them out to a farm, went to a park, walked with them, read to and with them, baked cookies with them, and generally enjoyed our time with them.

Perhaps this is a chance to relive our parenting skills again. Maybe it gives us the chance to feel the love of little innocent children. It is just a gift to be able to connect with those children and be a part of their learning about how to approach life.

We read to them at night, and this is a special time. We understand that reading to children is one of the single best ways to help children learn, and to develop perhaps our most important cognitive skill.

If you are a parent, never neglect the chance to read to your kids. There will come a time- sooner than later- that they will not ask or allow you to do this with them. If you are a grandparent, seize the chances to do this. It is one of the joys of life.

Our job is to leave the world a little better place than we found it. Investing in our children and grandchildren might be the most significant way that we can do that.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the gift of children and grandchildren. They remind us of the simple, important things, Amen