If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes! (Matthew 18:6-7 NRSV)
I've seen many people interpret causing 'these little one' to stumble as putting obstacles in the way of children growing, learning, and succeeding. But lately I've been wondering if too many times we cause children to stumble by teaching them the wrong things. Our society teaches 'It's OK if you do bad things to yourself or others as long as you're famous' or children hear from adults they respect 'Those people aren't as good as us because they're [fill in blank here].' To teach children that they can despise, mistreat and harm others in God's name is to cause them to stumble and fall from grace. Let's work this week on guiding the steps of all of God's 'little ones', even the adults, so that we can walk together in God's love.
Blessings!
Marilyn
It is a daunting thing to realize how much impact we can have.
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