Day 3

THE WORTH OF CHILDREN

For years, I have thought of the carol, “Away in the Manger,” as a lullaby to Jesus. Actually the carol is written from the perspective of a child. He is asking the Lord Jesus to watch over him. In the second stanza of the song, the child asks for the care of the Lord throughout the night until “morning is nigh.” The third stanza goes on to ask for the Lord’s care and love throughout his entire life, “forever.” The child even intercedes for “all the dear children.” His final request, and greatest, is to be with the Lord in his heavenly home.

Our Lord is so powerful that with a rebuke he calmed the storm. With a touch, he healed the blind and the leper. With the fire of God’s wrath in his eyes, he made a whip of cords and cleared the temple of the hucksters and money changers which were corrupting that holy place. Yet this same Jesus had time for children. On one occasion he said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14)

Our world places little value on children. The life of a child is deemed a choice and not a precious gift. Today children are abused physically, emotionally, and sexually at alarming rates. For many, children should be seen and not heard. It is in this kind of world that Jesus Christ has imbued children with eternal worth. They are precious in his sight. They are worthy of his time and ear.

In this Advent season remember that our Savior came as an infant and had to grow into manhood.
AWAY IN THE MANGER
The authorship is uncertain.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.