A Child’s Question, A Lesson in Compassion

“Mama, where are the grown-ups?” my four-year-old son asked at the site. He was looking at the table behind us and saw a group of kids sitting together, but they didn’t have a mom or dad with them. “What do you mean, buddy?” I wanted to make sure I understood what he was asking about but also wanted to buy some time to process an answer for him.

In the next few moments, we had the opportunity to process an element of spiritual and physical poverty that was way beyond his years. It was choppy and a little inconclusive on my end, but I took a stab at processing it together. The result was awesome despite my lack of a perfect answer.

He went and played with those kids like they were no different than he was. He loved on the kids that didn’t have a grown-up with them like Jesus would. It can be downright hard and intimidating to bring young kids to a site to serve. Their focus is short, and the involvement is a lopsided pendulum of keeping them out of trouble to sparse conversations with other adults.

The Lord showed me that evening at the site, with my son’s simple observation, that He doesn’t hide behind perfect answers and performances. His glory is for all ages to experience and thrives when we do life all together: grown-ups and kids, those praying and those eating a burger, those with a grown-up in tow, and those without.

Give showing up at a site next week a go with your whole family. It probably won’t be what you expected, but it will be worth the effort.