An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest.
But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side,
and said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least
among all of you is the greatest.’ Jesus
To welcome a child means to accept a child in love. It means to see the child as a whole, not only what s/he appears to be now - childish behaviors, immature, "goofy," and learning adult games - but who s/he is as a person that will one day go to school, have a job, have children of their own, talk politics, share Christ with you, and be revealed in glory. When you welcome a child, you welcome her/him as a person of equal dignity and respect.
Very wise words. Thank you for this today - I needed to be reminded of it.
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