With a big smile on her face, my daughter came running up to me, shouting, “Mommy! Mommy! May I make a care package for the mailman?” I was so pleased with her eagerness to show love, that, of course, I said, “Yes!”. She disappeared and came back about an hour later. She had made the care package of all care packages. A decorated brown paper bag filled with candy and pictures and books and a whole lot of Jesus. As I looked through the bag, I wondered if it was too much Jesus. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I almost didn’t let my sweet little disciple of a daughter actually put this kind gesture in the mailbox. I was afraid that it might be “too much”.

What would have happened to my daughter’s kind, Jesus-sharing spirt, had I told her that maybe we should tone the care package down a little bit? Knowing my daughter, I can tell you, that she would have thought she had done something wrong and that joyful little light of hers would have dimmed just a tiny bit.

“Do not hinder them…” This Bible verse kept ringing loudly in my ear.

While the care package may have been too much for my jaded heart, isn’t that kind of eagerness to share the love of Jesus something that I should want from my child? Something that I should be joyful of? Thankful about? Even imitating in my own life?

“Do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Vs.15

There you have it. Do not hinder them. Do not teach them to live their faith and then limit how they do it.

We can learn a lot from the littlest of his disciples.

So, when a child sings a hymn in church a little off beat or a little louder than the veteran members, enjoy it.

When a child boldly belts out “Jesus Loves Me” in the grocery store, smile at your fellow shoppers.

Encourage their boldness. They love the Lord! Praise God!

Their excitement to learn about and then share the love of Jesus is an answer to our prayer for them. They’re living out their faith! “Do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Vs. 15 Amen!