McMinnville Seventh-day Adventist Church

Perspective - How to Love Our Kids

Since our little children, and their parents, are the most precious security for sustaining the future of our church and the truth, let’s get to know them a little better.

Working in a pediatric clinic, I have heard doctors telling parents for many years now not to give negative feedback (punishment) unless the kids are doing something illegal, immoral, or are actually damaging property. They indicate that kids do not need to be repressed, but will outgrow things like restlessness, boisterousness, and over-exuberant playfulness.

The perspective?

When we do something we see as good and helpful, such as carrying the pastor’s Bible to his car as he asks, yet someone looks upon us with disdain and/or chastises us, how would we feel? Most likely similar to how parents feel when we criticize, glare at, or comment about the parent who is following the direction of what their doctor or professional tells them. If a child is not sitting as quietly as we’d like, and the parents are not checking them because their behavior is neither illegal, immoral, nor damaging, the parents are doing what the professionals indicate is the best for the child’s psychological stability. Whether we agree with the professional or not, the parents’ compliance warrants our respect. They are listening to their professional elders – a novel concept in this day and age.

So how do we respond as fellow church members who might be a little disturbed when we can’t hear the sermon or we have to slow down in order to let a little one fly by? How did Jesus respond? I doubt He encouraged them to run in the sanctuary, but what He did do is show them love – them and their parents.

There is a book entitled How to Keep Them in the Church which expounds on the need to get to know and love the kids of the church. The first suggestion is to learn their names, talk to them, and call them by name. Getting close to them so that they know us, love us, and respect us, gives us the best opportunity News & Notes from the McMinnville Seventh-day Adventist Church to make a loving, positive difference, especially in those behaviors we may not enjoy seeing in them. We may be able to help channel that energy as we lovingly keep a healthy perspective toward parents who are doing the best they know for their children.

So next time you see a child doing something “less reserved,” you might try calling their name, smile or wave, which will momentarily distract them from the behavior. Then ask if they are having fun, and with a heart-felt loving smile, suggest they have more fun with “quieter tones” or “a little slower.”

We have a tremendous responsibility towards keeping Christ’s children, and their parents, in the church. And the only real answer is – love.

May God bless our future in our children.