Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child shall not enter it. (Mark 10:15)

If I had preached on this text just six years ago, I would have extolled the virtues and sung the praises of children. Jesus said that we must be like children to receive the kingdom of God and I would have preached a sermon on how wonderful kids are. I would have waxed eloquent on how Jesus blessed the children and how children bless our lives every day with their innate goodness, charm and joy.

That's what I would have preached from this text six years ago, but something has happened in the meantime which makes me unable to preach that sermon today.

I got children of my own.

I became a father. And the experience of having children has made me far more sympathetic to th…