This is Child Health Day.

Remember singing “Jesus Loves Me” when you were small? Just about every child who has ever been to church knows that song. The verse goes (sing along if you want to): “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. They are weak, but he is strong.”

Jesus had been busy teaching, healing, and answering difficult questions—pretty much adult stuff. So when parents brought their children to Jesus for his prayers, the disciples tried to shoo them away, thinking Jesus was too busy to mess with kids.

Not only did Jesus tell the disciples to let the children come, he also explained that children were very important to him and his kingdom. Thus the phrase, “Little ones to him belong.”

Children are “little” and “weak,” especially babies and toddlers. In fact, they depend on moms and dads and big brothers and sisters for everything. They own nothing and have no power. They’re helpless—the opposite of what the world counts as important. We tend to value people based on their abilities, possessions, and positions in society. Yet Jesus says people need to become like little children if they want to be his followers. Luke reports that after calling for the children, Jesus said, “I assure you, anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God” (Luke 18:17).

So how do you get along with little kids, especially when they’re crying? How about when Mom or Dad asks you to pick up after them, change a diaper, or babysit? Are they annoying, a pain, an inconvenience?

Whenever you have those feelings, remember Jesus’ words and thank God for all his children, especially the little ones.

Jesus called for the children and said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).

To Do

If you have a little brother or sister, today offer to help take care of him or her before being asked. And be especially kind to all the little ones in your life.

Also on this day

This is World Habitat Day.

1968—The Motion Picture Association of America adopted the film-rating system that ranged from G to X.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.