“But Jesus said, “Let the children come to Me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” Matthew 19:14
So, there’s this memory I have, tucked away in the back of my mind, a little snippet from way back. I’ve probably shared it a million times by now, but hey, it’s one of those moments that really stuck with me. It’s about how my parents went all out to make holidays and birthdays special, even though they didn’t have much. Christmas was the big one, of course, but they tried to make every birthday memorable too, even if it meant sacrificing something else. And this particular birthday? Well, it stands out for one really amazing reason.
It was probably around 1959. I was about five years old, living in a world so different from today that it feels like we were on another planet. My birthday was just a few days after Christmas, and while I’m sure there was cake and family, the thing that stands out the most is the gift I got. I have no idea how parents choose presents for a five-year-old, but my Momma and Daddy totally nailed it that year.
Now, there were no big chain stores like Walmart back then. I imagine my parents went to the local Western Auto store — you know, that old-school place that was part appliance store, part general store, and part toy shop. And somehow, they found the perfect gift for me: an ice cream truck. Well, not really a truck, and not one that actually held ice cream, but it was still something special.
It was like a tricycle, but with a big metal box on the back plastered with decals declaring it to be an ice cream truck. It had streamers on the handlebars, a fender on the front wheel, and of course, a bell. I can clearly remember pedaling down the street in front of our house, pretending to sell ice cream, with no cars around to worry about.
One day, I remember riding down the road to where a guy was building a little house all by himself. I stopped, asked him if he wanted some ice cream, and he actually played along! We ended up chatting a lot, and every day after that, I’d ride down to see him. I don’t remember his name, but I’ll never forget how kind he was to a little kid with an imaginary ice cream truck. That kind of kindness sticks with you, even years later.
It makes me think of this quote my wife has hanging up at home from Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” That’s exactly what this man did — he made me feel like I mattered, even though I was just a kid. I don’t even remember his name, but I’ll never forget how he treated me.
It makes me wonder: when was the last time we took a moment to show kindness to someone, especially when they least expect it? Back then, kids were supposed to be seen, not heard, so when this man went out of his way to talk to me, to stop what he was doing, it was something special. He stepped out of the adult world and made me feel important.
And it makes me think about Jesus too. He was always the one who noticed the invisible people, the ones others overlooked. He was the one who said, “Let the little children come to Me.” I bet if Jesus was there that day, He would’ve said, “Let Dewayne come to Me.” And the thing is, no matter how small or insignificant you might feel sometimes, to Jesus, you’re never invisible. You matter. You matter so much to Him.
So, if life feels overwhelming or like it’s just not going your way, just remember: you’ve got a friend in Jesus. He’s got your back, always. And maybe, just maybe, we should all try to be a little more like Him and spread some kindness along the way. Need a little help? Here’s good news…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 