My sister was talking to me the other day about an area on her police beat that consists of rundown apartment buildings filled with poor families 2/3's of which have not had hot running water for six months. The point of her telling me this is she stopped to visit with the children and the mothers sitting outside. She wants the children to have a friendly and not a fearful relationship with the police, so she does this often. During their conversation, she asked the mothers if they were sending their children to the VBS at the church across the street. She was told they could not send their children as they didn't attend that church and were told "their" children were not wanted there. Her story broke my heart.

     It caused me to recall another church in another time when my children were so young and eager to learn about Jesus. Their hearts are so open at 3 and 4 and 5 years of age. Matthew was in the 3 and 4 year old class and had made a new friend. I will call him Tommy. Tommy did not attend church; his parents did not attend church and were really using VBS as a morning babysitter. Matthew came home the last day filled with joy for Tommy had given his heart to Jesus! Many had done so over the week, but this was Matthew's new friend and it meant everything to be. I thought that maybe I would go and visit his mother next week and the boys could play.

     Next week never happened, well, not like I had planned. You see Tommy and his family had left on vacation the day after VBS ended and a horrific accident occurred. Tommy had been thrown through the car windshield. This resulted in brain injury so terrible that he would remain in a somewhat comatose state. Matthew and Tommy would never play again. I would visit with his mother and she would eventually give her heart to the Lord as well. Our joy was in knowing Tommy and Jesus were well acquainted because VBS had welcomed him.

      I hope that as VBS's start about the country, that you will encourage your neighbors to join your children there and hat your church will not make the mistake of tuning them away as the Disciples had tried to do. Jesus says let them come. Who are we to forbid them entry?

     Jesus said," Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Matthew 19:14

And than He placed His hands on them....