While I was teaching Children’s Church one Sunday to 3, 4, and 5-year-olds, a four-year-old girl was brought in from the older class with the explanation that she should be in our class. 

Being new to our church and to this group of sixteen rambunctious preschoolers, she quickly gravitated toward me, the teacher. I was sitting in a rocking chair reading a story to the children.

As she pressed her body into mine to get as close as she could, I instinctively wrapped my right arm around her to communicate security and acceptance by me, a complete stranger to her.

Her position made it impossible to continue to read the book since I also needed to turn the pages and pan the book so all the children could see it.

Children want to feel this way. Read the lesson I learned while teaching Children's Church.So I asked my sweet buddy if she wanted to sit on my lap. Her eagerness was almost comical and she settled in on my side now with my left arm supporting her, freeing up my right hand to hold the book, pan the book, and turn the pages. 

The story was intriguing to my enraptured audience as I got the children to repeat a phrase that the wayward child in the story kept saying. Now, a normal child is hooked on the anticipation of seeing the next page. Even as an adult, I often respond to curiousity to watch a youtube video or click on a link to check out what it was promising. In the same way, children are almost falling over each other to see the next page!

So it stands to reason that this little girl would want to see the pictures in the book. Right? But in order to do that, she would have to give up her place on my lap with my arm securely around her to instead sit in front of me to be able to see the pictures.

Do you know what she chose? She chose the security and love found in my embrace and being close to me rather than seeing the pictures in the story.

Our hands . . . our touch . . . are able communicate love. It’s like our hands have their own language.

I learned a lesson from that precious child.

I learned that often when a small child snuggles up to an adult, they are seeking to feel secure and safe and maybe even loved. That I respected her need to be close to me communicated to her that she was safe in my presence and that I cared about her.

This reminds me of how Jesus wants us to come to Him like a little, trusting child. Matthew 19:14 says “But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (NKJV)

When we come to Jesus like a child, we feel safe and secure, and best of all, loved with everlasting love.

Share how you have felt particularly loved by friend or family member and what they did to make you feel that way.

First published: Sep 2014

Updated: Jan 2025