ALL OF THIS JUST TO BE A CROSSING GUARD?

My grandson’s elementary school had an open position for crossing guard and they were having a hard time filling it.  Since I’m there every morning to drop him off and pick him up after school (his mom works), I figured it just made sense for me to offer.  I had no idea what that process was going to be.  The list of  documents I had to complete was long.  They included:  Personal Data Sheet, Criminal Record Check Form, Conviction Disclosure Form, Unprofessional Conduct Form, Authorization to Release Information, and Fingerprint Processing Tracking Form.  As I worked my way through all of that paperwork I thought to myself, “All of this just to be a crossing guard?”

But as I filled out those forms it dawned on me that behind them are sad stories.  It’s because our society knows that bad people could do bad things to children if they were around them, that my grandson’s school is leaving no stone unturned in making sure I am who I say I am and that I have not done anything that would make me a bad choice to be around children.

I know why his school wants to know all of that.  The parents in our community love their children.  They want them to be safe from cars on the street as well as from predators who would harm them.  They want them to come home safely from school at the end of the day, happy and healthy.  Those parents want their children to learn in a safe environment.  Those parents want what’s best for their kids physically, emotionally, socially, academically, and athletically.  Good for them!  I want that for them too and especially for my dear grandson.

This past Sunday in Mark 9:42 Jesus said, “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.”  In the very next chapter Mark records these words of Jesus, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”  (10:14)  It’s clear that Jesus loves children, too.  He, too, wants them kept safe, fed, loved, raised, and treasured.  But he wants even more than that for them.  He wants them to know him.  He wants to have a relationship with children.  His words from Mark 9 and Mark 10 mean that he is really, earnestly, uncompromisingly serious about our bringing our children to him for blessing and about not doing anything that would prevent them from coming or that would cause them to turn away. 

So maybe it’s good that we parents run our own background check on ourselves in this regard.  Have I brought my children to Jesus so that he can bless them through Holy Baptism?  Am I faithfully bringing my little ones to God’s house so that he can bless them there through his Word?  Am I sharing the Word with my children in family devotions?  Do I reflect God’s will and God’s forgiveness and love in my parenting?  If you realize you’ve fallen short, if you see that you could have done better, don’t despair.  God forgives sins.  If you want to honor him by doing better, be confident that he stands ready to help strengthen you and guide you through his Word.  If we at Ascension Lutheran Church can be assistance to you in this, please let us know.  We want for your child what Jesus wants for your child.