In his arms he will gather the lambs

When I read the article that More Light Presbyterians had placed on their site and the information they introduced it with I was sickened. Their article is Lessons from Sharing the Story of My (Possibly) Gay 6-Year-Old Son. They link to the mother’s article on Huffpost Gay Voices and both places link to her blog. She wrote about her six year old having a crush on one of the gay men on the show Glee and how her son said he would rather kiss guys instead of girls. And really after several sons and many grandsons I don’t think many little boys, at the age of six, like kissing girls.

But the sad part is she thought this was so cute that her son would sit for a half-hour “mooning” over a picture of the man. And while she admitted that, ‘Six year olds get obsessed with all kinds of things.’ and ‘This might not mean anything at all,’ she nonetheless was happy to watch and not hinder or guide. But children need care and guidance….

Some of the Bible’s most tender yet powerful images occur when Jesus speaks to his disciples about placing children in his care. He was “indignant” at their attempts to push the children away and said, “Permit the children to come to me; and do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” But more so, “He took them in his arms and began blessing them, laying his hand on them.” (Mark 10:14, 16.) There is both gentle care and a warning in these scenes which are pictured in all of the synoptic gospels. Do not hinder he says.

The care is not unlike Isaiah 40:11, “Like a shepherd he will tend his flock, in his arms he will gather the lambs and carry them in his bosom; he will gently lead the nursing ewes.” Before this verse in Isaiah 40 and after it there are detailed accounts of the finiteness of humanity and the powerfulness, creativity and eternality of God. But his children, the adult kind and the child kind, rest in his care. And he does not leave them without nourishment, guidance, love and discipline. He does not leave them to gather their goods or goals from the world’s immorality but has sent his word, both written and living.

We can trust the one who created everything to heal that which is broken and give abundant life without end. We can still bring our children to Christ and place them in his arms for blessing.