Guided reflection:

Babies and little children were a nuisance to the disciples… they wanted them out of sight and out of mind, but Jesus had another way of looking at children. Like the chorus, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world”. That is why I like to make a big fuss about babies – the first time they come to worship, when they are baptized, when they go to Sunday School, when they sing their little songs… Oh, the joy of little children. They are filled with promise and potential.

Guided prayer:

“I love to know that Jesus would have hugged and kissed me as a baby… and would want to hold my babies close. But now that I am grown, Loving God, help me keep my heart and mind open in the innocence and wonder of a little child. Help me give my inner child a chance to influence the way I look at the world and all ofyour children. Amen”