Children of Clay

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven…So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." (1)

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." (2)

Building Blocks

A child learns to build his trust
Upon his parent's honesty;
A promise kept is seen as just:
A model of integrity.

A child learns to build his love
Upon his parent's charity;
The selfless acts to him speak of
The call to generosity.

A child learns to build his prayer
Upon his parent's faith in God.
The faith that's lived with loving care
Lays out the path on which they trod.

A child learns to be a friend
When parents lend a patient ear:
Fully present, they condescend,
To set things right and soothe his fear.

A child builds his self-control
On balanced praise and discipline;
A firm hand forms a stronger soul,
Which can withstand the wounds of sin.

For children are a molten clay,
The Father forms within our hands:
When we rebel, then we betray
This sacred trust which God demands.

Father, form us, as we form them,
With gentle hands -- your clay children.






(c) Paul Buis, 2001

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(1) Matthew 18: 10,14
(2) Colossians 3:12-14