I love how Jesus’ compassion for children is depicted in Matthew 19:14: “Let the little children come to me.”  In my mind’s eye, I picture a smiling Jesus.  I envision Him as the One who knows the developmental phases of childhood.  Surrounded by kids of all ages, He’s both relevant and relatable, silly and serious, in a way that’s approachable to kids.  But above all, He’s the One whose heart hurts when He sees a child hurting.

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His heartache for hurting children is shown as the verse goes on to say “Don’t stop [hinder] them…” [Expanded Bible].  In unpacking that word, hinder, we’re given new perspectives on the action of stopping a child.  This verb means “to cause delay, interruption, or difficulty in; to impede” [Dictionary.com].  Through my trauma-informed lens as a seasoned elementary teacher and licensed school counselor, I sadly know what forms ‘child-hinderance’ take on: Sexual molestation, physical violence, emotional and psychological abuse, and neglect, just to name a few.  With an understanding that 1 in 7 children experience trauma every year [SAMHSA, Understanding Trauma], it’s evident that Jesus’ appeal to “suffer the children not” [King James Version] is recognition of children who endure abuse, admonishment to those who inflict it, and a command for intervention and prevention.  

 

Despite the hindrance of healthy development, impediment to natural childhood, and immense impact of child trauma, there is hope at the end of verse 14: “The Kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children [meaning humble and dependent]” [Expanded Bible].  These humble and dependent children rely on faithful and loving adults who step into that place of injury.  They offer consistency, warmth, acceptance, and stability.  They provide relationship to offset rejection, safety to replace susceptibility, and patience despite push-back.  Jesus invites adults to intervene on behalf of “children like these.”

Walking Together from Trauma to Trust offers a supplemental tool for post-traumatic growth in “children like these.”  Having traveled alongside her own granddaughter’s lifelong path to healing, Laura’s personal journey brings legitimacy to kid-centered spiritual affirmations for the child and praise-worthy declarations of their God.  Her understanding of caregiver heaviness allows for insightful inspiration for those working through Adverse Childhood Experiences.  Indeed, this Scripture-based, Jesus-focused resource is one that aids in navigating the emotions experienced by healing children and their grown-ups, and emphasizes the promise of “the Kingdom of Heaven.”

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~Mindy N. Salyers, BA, MSC, LCMHC