Learning From Children

Juhee's two Japanese friends in this picture - Chiho-san and Takumi-kun - are both from non-Christian families. Juhee's main purpose for playing with them is so that she can have her turn down the slide and have fun with her friends! =) No hidden agenda. No wonder why "Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these"" (Matthew 19:14).

We want to be able to share our lives with people here and in Japan like Titus did with the Thessalonians: "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us" (1 Thessalonians 2:8). We want to build true friendships and share our lives with the people around us. Hopefully it'll stay that way and we won't develop a "hidden agenda" which will end up closing doors. But if that does happen, we'll hopefully have the wisdom to reflect back on our actions, know what we did wrong, to repent, and to learn from our mistake.

This is an excerpt from pp. 56-57 of Professor Al Hammond's book, Stories from Japan.

"Learning From Children
When Japanese are offended by you, they do not use abusive speech, but use a very indirect polite level of language. By so speaking they create social distance and buffer themselves from further pain. At a time when I thought we were finally accepted, I experienced this estrangement from my neighbor, Masuda San. I felt the sting of his formal polite greetings which had replaced the friendly insider expressions. I had been placed on the outside of his circle of cordial friends and I did not know why.
Months passed until one day the smile and warm informal greeting from this usually friendly farmer resumed. After a comment or two about the warm summer day he paid me a complement. "I like your children," he said, beaming at me. "Domo," I replied, reciprocating with the plain male speech for thanks. "Why do you like them?" I added, which was probably the wrong thing to ask. "Because they ain't thinking nothin," was his mystifying reply.
I knew that my younger children not only accompanied Mr. Masuda in his farming adventures in his field but also frequented his home where they received cookies and juice. Out of natural curiosity, the Masudas enjoyed the youngsters, who spoke colloquial Japanese with less foreign accent than their parents. But why did he say he liked them, because, "They ain't thinking nothin,"? I pondered.
A reflection on my relationship with Masuda San in contrast to that of my children suggested the answer. I had approached my non-Christian neighbor as an object of missionary evangelism. From the start I was giving cues of my impatience to get the right response from him. I had subsequently angered him when I had given his daughter a translated Moody Bible Story Book without asking permission from her parents. My youngsters, on the other hand, had accepted Mr. Masuda, just as he was, as a kindly neighbor willing to teach them about farming and ply them with cookies. Their trusting approach opened his heart; my hidden agenda had closed doors (Romans 5:8)."

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Help keep us accountable please! =)