Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them. . . Matthew 19:13a (KJV)

The actor W.C. Fields didn’t like children. On the set of his movie, It's a Gift, Fields actually spiked Baby LeRoy's juice with alcohol and made him very sick. When Fields was asked how he liked children, depending on the day, he is supposed to have replied, “Fried”, “par-boiled” or “well done.”

That quality, along with many others, probably wouldn’t endear the politically incorrect actor to today’s movie-going audiences. Of course, there are some who say W.C. Fields was just putting on a false front for the purposes of publicity.

The same excuse can’t be said of the Michigan man who stole the summer savings of nine-year-old Milan Grundahl.

Last week, at a Mount Pleasant Wal-Mart, Milan dropped a plastic bag, which held $150.00. It was money that he had designated to buy birthday presents for his brother and sister. It only took a few moments for Milan to realize what he had done. It only took a few moments more for him to run back to the parking lot to find his birthday-gift money.

Young Mr. Grundahl didn’t find his cash.

Security cameras recorded the actions of a man who saw the boy lose his money; they show how that man snatched up the cash and took it to his car. The cameras even show the man sitting in his car counting his ill-gotten gains while the boy desperately combed the area for what he had lost.

Now, I’m certainly not going to say this story is the worst thing an adult can do to a child. It’s not. Even so, it’s a far cry from the actions of the Savior who picked children up in His arms and blessed them. That little picture of the Savior’s mercy is one that is precious to us all.

It is precious to us all because Jesus love, as well as His precious life was graciously given to children of all ages. It is a precious picture of the Savior, because, in truth, each of us has been picked up by Jesus’ nail-pierced hands. Each of us has been blessed by the crucified and risen Lord. Each of us has been blessed by the Savior who gives and doesn’t take.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, may adults who take advantage of little children be brought to a realization and a repentance of their sin. May they, having seen Your love, learn to love the little ones, the ones You would have us bless. In Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Isaiah 23-25    Ephesians 5:17-23

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