The celebrations of Mother’s Day in May and Father’s Day in June have been very popular for many years, but in between them is a less well-known celebration called Children’s Day.  The date has changed several times, but it is now celebrated the second Sunday in June.  At one time President Bill Clinton proclaimed for it to be celebrated November 16, but George W. Bush changed it to early June, and now it is celebrated the second Sunday of June.  President Bush declared, “Every child in every neighborhood has unique gifts to offer.  We must nurture our children’s dreams, help them develop their talents and abilities, and ensure their healthy development so that they may reach their full potential. Our success in this vital endeavor will affect the direction of their lives and the future strength and vitality of our nation.”

        “Words from Above” in the Bible tell us that long before the celebration of Children’s Day, God called for His people to consider their children to be what He called “a heritage of the Lord.” When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, He said, “These words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your children.  You shall talk of them when you are sitting in your house, when you are out walking somewhere, when you go to bed at night, and when you get up in the morning.”  Wise King Solomon said in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

        The disciples of Jesus once discouraged parents from bringing their children to Jesus to be blessed by Him.  Jesus instructed them to allow the little children to come to Him, and not to forbid them.  He said that they represented what members of the kingdom of heaven were like.  When the disciples asked Jesus about who was greatest in the kingdom of heaven, He called a little child to Himself and set him in the middle of them.  He then said, “Except you are converted, and become as little children, you shall not even enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever therefore shall humble himself as a little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  He also said that whoever receives a little child in His name receives Him as well and whoever offends one of these little ones who believe in Him, it was better for him that a millstone was hanged around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea.  Let’s be part of celebrating children.

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For informa-tion, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.