Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ -Luke 23.34

In January, I wrote an entry about spiritual gifts with Ruby Bridges as the example of spiritual gifts that we recognize in children.  Recently her name has come up several times in conversations with various people, so I looked back at what I wrote.  What specifically struck me was the prayer.  Robert Coles wrote about her prayer in his children’s book, The Story of Ruby Bridges, as he was there to witness the events as they unfolded. 

“Please God, try to forgive these people.
Because even if they say those bad things,
They don’t know what they’re doing.
So You could forgive them,
Just like You did those folks a long time ago
When they said terrible things about You.”

There are prayers of the church that have been spoken for centuries, there are extemporaneous prayers from the heart that we speak when we are alone with God, there are the Psalms, and there are meditative prayers.  This prayer, from this child, at that time illustrates love of neighbor under horrific circumstances.  How are we allowing our children to remind us of this kind of love?

RESOURCES:

Read and hear Ruby’s own words at pbs.org

Discover more about Ruby Bridges’ experience at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis website

Check out The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles or Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges at your local public library

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An opportunity from the National Association for the Education of Young Children [NAEYC]:

Developmentally Appropriate Practice and Play

DAP and Play is an interactive, online, self-paced program that addresses the way in which DAP supports play- a key element of effective teaching of young children. The program is designed to be used by individuals as a self-study resource and includes videos featuring classroom scenes depicting play in programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, and primary grade children; and voices of experts: teachers, administrators, researchers, and others.  

After completing the DAP and Play online program, participate in a follow-up Webinar targeted to your peer group.

The Webinars will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Eastern Time

• March 16, 2010 – Teachers, family child care providers, and other direct service providers
• March 17, 2010 – Program administrators
• March 18, 2010 – Faculty and other professional development specialists

For further information and to register, visit the Web site. 

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Recently on my drive to work I tuned into NPR and heard the story of a retired physician who is giving back to the community by using his gifts to serve others.  Simple concept that Christians should understand well.  Although the story seemed interesting, it was the actions of a six-year-old boy that captured my attention.

From NPR.org - “Doctor Learns a Lesson in Caring from a Six-Year-Old”

Dr. Greer was seeing some patients around lunchtime — a mother and her children, who had been staying at a Salvation Army shelter.

“Her youngest son — I guess, about 6 years old — had a sweet smile. And I handed him my sandwich,” Greer said.

“And the kid took the sandwich out of the bag, unwrapped it, broke it in half, took a couple of bites and then stuck it back in the wrapper. And I couldn’t figure out why the kid was doing that.

“And I asked the kid, ‘Why’d you do that?’ “

The little boy looked up at Greer and said, “It’s for my brother.”

“And that was probably one of the most important lessons I ever learned,” Greer said. “That a 6-year-old homeless child is teaching us what we’re all supposed to do: think about somebody else.”

This act of love exemplifies living out the two Greatest Commandments given to us by Jesus Christ – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

During this Lenten season, what are we doing to live out the command to love?

Resources:

FOR CHILDREN: Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox

FOR ADULTS: The Awkward Season by Pamela Hawkins

FOR LEADERS: Raising Children to Love Their Neighbors by Carolyn C. Brown

All resources available through www.cokesbury.com

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