9 ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ John 6:9
One of the fun stories in the Bible about children, who remain often unseen and nameless, perhaps considered a nuisance, is about Jesus as an adult preaching to a mass of people on a mountainside. The people had been listening for a long time and were hungry. There were no shops near by for so huge a gathering. Disciple Andrew found the only resource available, an unnamed boy with five barley loaves and two fish. The child had enough for himself and his importance was doubted. It is easy to dismiss children. “What are they?” We could skip over Jesus’ childhood as unimportant, a preparation time for the accomplishments of adulthood. But Luke points out that Jesus was a child like you and me. He did not just pop onto the world stage. Sunday we will take a moment and ponder the circumcision of Jesus as an infant as our point story for his childhood. Let’s be amazed as Joseph and Mary were when they hear Simeon and Anna speak.
The little boy we read about today by sharing his lunch enabled Jesus and the disciples to feed a multitude. Children are a blessing. Children that need attention when we come home from work give us opportunities to unwind. Children who tell us silly stories that require us to slow down and listen, teach us patience and help us see life through their eyes. Children who break things challenge us to generosity. We like to focus on the fish and bread and the miracle of being fed, but perhaps sitting in the innocence and simple generosity of the child today will help us face the complicated challenges of adults we face. Blessings as you connect with a child today.
On the Way to Wonder 