This guest post is written by Ellie Anderson.
I was around five years old and in my ballet studio. I can’t remember if it was for a rehearsal; I only remember a circle of teenage girls sitting around and talking. Little me, being the extrovert I am, went over, plopped down, and joined the conversation.
I remember them being so inviting and kind. They didn’t treat me as a nuisance but as one of the group. I was delighted! The girls I looked up to, the higher-level dancers were talking to ME! How much happier can a five-year-old get? When we got in the car to drive home that day, my mom gave me some wise advice. She told me to remember this experience when I was the older girl and little kids wanted to hang around me.
Now, I am that older kid. Younger kids look up to me and want to hang out with me. I may be the older kid, but I’m also a younger person looking up to those older than me.
It can be easy to ignore the little five-year-old hoping to play with you at the pool. You’re hanging out with your friends, having a conversation, and you don’t want to be interrupted. But, just like those teenagers in my ballet studio made a lasting impact on me, you can make a lasting impact on those younger than you.
In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
With the Love of Christ
Children are so precious to Jesus yet in our culture it is painfully obvious how many devalue little lives, in and out of the womb. Yet we have an incredible opportunity to demonstrate to the world how children ought to be treated with the love of Christ.
Now, what does this look like? For me, it means building relationships with the elementary schoolers at my church. There are a few kids I’ve known for a very long time and when I see them, I’ll go up and hug them. I ask them how school is going, or what they want for Christmas. I give them my address and write them letters.
When you ask a child their name and invite them to join you in whatever you’re doing, you could give them a memory they’ll never forget.
Just like I have remembered those girls from the dance studio, that child could carry the memory of you caring deeply about them into their teen years, and it could inspire them to do the same one day.
Getting Involved
These simple actions build relationships. I hope that over time, I become someone these kids trust, and when they are going through struggles, I’m someone they feel comfortable coming to with those hard things. This might look different for you though. Maybe you’re a senior, which means helping out a new nervous freshman (like me)!
It may mean getting involved in your church’s children’s ministry or volunteering at a preschool. Whatever it is for you, I encourage you to get involved in the lives of the younger generations. These kids are the future adults of the world, and you can impact them for the better.
So next time you see a kid alone at church or a get-together, whether you know them or not, go up and say hello. Converse with them and get to know them a little. And if you see them again, continue to build a relationship. You never know how you might impact them.
“Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” (Luke 9:47-48).
About the Author:
Ellie is a homeschooled freshman from Oregon. She first found her love for writing in 2020 and has been writing ever since. She is one of the most extroverted people you’ll ever meet and loves to hang out with friends as much as she can. She also enjoys crafting, dancing, and entrepreneurship.
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