What is it about the innocence of children that draw us to them?

Years ago there was a show where host Art Linkletter interviewed children about any subject they wanted to talk about.

It was entertaining and showed a grace and dignity in dealing with small children. There was a dialogue, a give-and-take with mutual respect between Linkletter and the children.

I imagine Jesus having as much enjoyment with children when he could. Children always thrive in an environment where they know they are loved unconditionally – and when they are not in need of a nap!

I can imagine Christ attracting many children. He was a safe person. Having created humanity, he knew how to handle children well.

He taught parents how to parent, being parented by the perfect Father.

The nurturing parent values and listens to the child to find the source of any pain.

Like children, we need our daily nurturer Jesus to help us in our weaknesses, restore our souls and teach us more deeply to love that we may worship more purely.

God has always been, and is about restoring and healing his children’s souls in this age and permanently in the age to come.

Long ago the LORD said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.

I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel.
You will again be happy
and dance merrily with your tambourines. – Jeremiah 31:3

Our hurts heal best with understanding and comfort, of which Jesus offer perfectly. Christ could have walked through the crowds giving general commands. But he humbled himself to heal people specifically and quietly in their pain.

I believe also that Christ established a connection with the hurting before proceeding to heal. Like a good doctor, he paused first; he did a combination of – and not necessarily in any order – listened, examined, analyzed, asked questions.

Then he healed.

And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”… – Luke 8:45 (RSV)

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” – John 5:6 (ESV)

And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. – John 9:2-3 (ESV)

There is so much I don’t know.

What I know is God is the perfect parent and physician, healing the wounds, and promoting joy and well-being because he loves his children through the person of Jesus, so that we could return the love through our daily worship.

Thank you God for eternally loving and healing your children.

Amazing!