Rachel Whisman

Hugs galore. The other day I was curious, wondering how many hugs I get from my 2nd graders on average. I was thinking maybe ten or fifteen, but I was wrong. Aim a little higher and you will hit the target of 20-30 hugs per day. 

I do love my kids, but I am not their mom. I am their teacher. From day one, even before they got to know me, they have been quick to hug me. They never exhaust themselves by asking for a hug. It is the same kids every day, and they come to me with open arms eager to receive a hug, never expecting me to deny them. Even when I was sick this past week, they still came. It did not deter them, but made them all the more desirous to do so. I do not even ask them to come, they just do. It is their response to the care that I have shown them, despite the many mistakes I have made. 

Thinking about how my students come to me eagerly, unhindered, and repeatedly, reminded me of Jesus’ response to His disciples in Matthew 19:13-14 when it was told, “The children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’ And he laid his hands on them and went away.” “Let them come” rolled in my mind as I thought about how nothing hinders my students from coming to me. They are confident in my love and acceptance of them. Nor are they shy, timid, or reluctant to come to me; they are not discouraged. “Do not hinder them” is also a command to be obeyed and followed. Do nothing that will prevent these children from coming to their heavenly Father. Do not impede nor distract them from the marvelous reality of coming to their Father. 

The truth is, we are all children. I am a daughter of the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). Yet, how do I come to the Father? Do I come? Am I confident enough to run into His embrace, or am I sluggish, hesitant, or too preoccupied with preparing myself with the right words and sentiments? I might hinder myself by lingering, waiting until I am good enough, or finally organized.

If I am elated when my students, who are not even my children, come pursuing me with a hug, how much more do you think our Heavenly Father rejoices when we come to Him? For He is not weary with your bemoanings; He knows them better than you do! You do not drain him by coming to Him because He is our source for everything, “for with Him is the fountain of life” (Psalm 36:9). 

In light of this glorious truth, go boldly to Christ in whatever state you are in. Keep pouring your heart out to Him. Do not obstruct yourself and others, nor let others prevent you as well.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Come! Don’t delay. He’s already there with open arms. May you also be an encourager rather than an inhibitor for the people God has placed in your life so that they can ”with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). He is there. Let us do whatever it takes to go to Him. Do not hinder yourself, but come with child-like faith and rest in your Father’s embrace. He will not turn you away. 

“Christ calls us to wear His yoke, not to make one for ourselves. He wants us to share the yoke with Him, to be His true yokefellows. It is wonderful that He is willing to be yoked with us; the only greater wonder is that we are so unwilling to be yoked with Him. When we take His yoke upon us, what joy we will have in our eternal rest! Here we find rest for our souls, a further rest beyond what He gives us when we come to Him. We first rest in Jesus by faith, and then we rest in Him by obedience. The first rest He gives through His death; the further rest we find through imitating His life.”

-Charles Spurgeon