They sent him to my classroom;
I wasn’t sure exactly why, except he was causing some kind of low key disturbance in the elementary homeroom.
He seemed like a quiet little boy. He was clearly upset, however, and unable to control himself to sit in his chair or desk.
He was restless.
His little face wore a look of concern.
I observed him, wondering how to get to what was bothering him, when he got up and rushed to the window.
Our classroom windows looked out on the grassy playground, across to the low cost housing apartments beyond the chain link fence.
It was a cloudy day with grey skies and hanging deep purple clouds. A wind was coming up.
“Are you worried about the weather?” I asked him.
“No, mam,” he said quietly.
“Can you tell me what is wrong?”
“Not really.”
“Maybe I can help,” I said.
“I don’t think so,” he said softly, his head down and his shoulders rounded.
“Let’s try.”
“OK. Last night my mama got home real late. I was asleep on the couch. Her friend was there, and he was mad. He started hitting and beating on her. I couldn’t stop him, but I tried to run at him. He just pushed me away.”
“O no, that’s terrible. Did he hurt you? Is your mama ok?’
“I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know,” he sobbed. “He made me leave to come over here to school. I didn’t get to get ready or nothing.”
“What can we do?” I asked. “Can we all someone, or the police.”
“Nope. I’m just waiting to see if the ambulance come.”
Not wanting to leave him yet to contact someone who might be able to help, I quietly brought two of our small chairs beside him. I put them right in front of the window.
He sat down.
I sat down beside him.
We watched his apartment. We watched the clouds gather. We waited to see what would happen as rain began to fall, and we heard police car sirens.
Children come to school. Parents or someone sends them. They come with various mind sets, problems, joys, and readiness to learn.
Jesus said, when people brought children to Him, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:14
What was going on?
People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to bless them, but the disciples were trying to stop them and tell them not to bother Jesus. The Bible says Jesus “was indignant,” He wanted the children to come. Verse 16 says, “And He took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
Be a blessing to the little children around you whenever you can.
