little children

yesterday, marked my fourth year as our church's sunday school director. 

time flies when you are having fun

and have the best team of teachers who with their whole heart care about 

"training up our children in the way that they should go, 

so that when they are old they will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6

my teachers, God bless them, make me look good. i don't make them look good. 

yesterday, right smack dab in the middle of liturgy

our priest called my husband and i (he's guilty by association) up to the front of the church

and presented us with the above icon. 

"Christ blessing the Children"

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, 

for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them."

Matthew 19:14

Luke 18:17 continues to say,

"Assuredly i say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

in my study bible these are the church fathers notes on what little child means:

a little child is not arrogant, he does not despise anyone, he is innocent and guileless. he does not inflate himself in the presence of important people, nor withdraw from those in sorrows. instead, he lives in complete simplicity.

you guys, i want to be a little child.

i am so humbled to have received this gift, i really feel like i don't deserve it. 

i just love our little children big.