Heart Lessons

The child grew up and became strong. He was filled with wisdom and God’s favor was on him… And Jesus matured in wisdom and years and in favor with God and with people.

Luke 2:40, 52

Devotion

In 1986, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum was published. From the book came the popular song “Kindergarten Wall” by John McCutcheon. Do you remember it?

Of all you learn here, remember this the best
Don’t hurt each other and clean up your mess.
Take a nap every day, wash before you eat
Hold hands, stick together,
Look before you cross the street…

It’s true, some of the most important lessons we learn happen in ordinary life, and many of those lessons are learned when we are young. Young children seem to have an endless capacity for authenticity. As a teacher of kindergarteners, I saw this often. It didn’t take long to realized my instruction wasn’t nearly as valuable as the lessons they learned in small groups or on the playground- lessons about generosity, compassion, and forgiveness. I called these heart lessons because they can’t be taught but rather experienced in the heart.

I wonder what lessons Jesus learned as a toddler, before he stayed behind in the temple when he was 12 (Luke 2:41-52). Before this Passover story, when Jesus was still very young, the Bible said he was filled with wisdom. What does wisdom look like in a toddler? In a young boy? In a teenager? Is wisdom defined by obedience, not just to earthly parents but to a heavenly Father? As Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature, Jesus was learning obedience from the heart. He was learning compassion, kindness, generosity. With every step he took, in every ordinary encounter, Jesus was learning how to obey his Heavenly Father. “Not my will,” he’d whisper, “but thine.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, to know you is to know oneself. Move us to examine our hearts. Stir within us compassion, love and forgiveness. In your blessed name we pray. Amen.