Kinley's Memorial

Peter and Tristin, when you first held Kinley in your arms seven months ago, you never dreamed you’d be here in this place, holding her memorial service. When she was first diagnosed with cancer, you may have wondered, but with all our medical advancements, all the skilled doctors and nurses and staff, there was hope for treatment, for a cure. But for all that, you, like far too many other parents, are here, in grief, in loss.

It is worth asking, “Why?” We have general answers. Like a genetic trait handed down from generation to generation, all are under the curse of Adam’s original sin. Because he rebelled against God, by disobeying His command, by willingly taking upon himself and all humanity the wages of sin: death. Such is the sentence for us all. We have grown accustomed to the reality of death—sort of—in that it is expected after a long and well-lived life. But when a child, a precious, beautiful, wonderful child dies, we are confronted with the reality of life in this world.

This is the world we live in, this is the world we have inherited. It does us no good at all to try to hide from reality. There is only one reasonable response in these circumstances. We turn to Jesus, bringing ourselves and our little children to Him, that He might touch us, lay His hands on us, and bless us.

In faith, perhaps even in superstition, for during His earthly ministry, not even His disciples fully understood who He is, parents brought their little children, children Kinley’s age, Oaklynn’s age, all ages to Jesus. They sought His blessing for their children.

That too brings the question, “Why?” Why to Jesus? At this point in Jesus’ ministry, He had healed the sick, He had cast out demons, He had cured a woman who had been suffering for 12 years, He had raised the dead, He had fed 5000 people at one time, and at another time had fed 4000 people. Clearly, Jesus was no ordinary person. They came to Him seeking His blessing for their children. Even if they didn’t fully understand who He was, they knew there was something to Him.

His disciples didn’t understand the moment, this moment in time—this time to embrace and be embraced. They rebuked the parents. They thought Jesus was too busy, to important for such a thing as this.

When Jesus saw this, He was indignant, He was indignant, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.”

This does not mean that all belong to the kingdom of God. The Bible is clear, children of believers are holy, that is, set apart by God. Since you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, whose life, death, resurrection and ascension have bought salvation for you and yours, Peter and Tristin, you have confidence and faith that Kinley is with Jesus.

So what is Jesus saying in this passage? He is saith that the kingdom of God belongs to those who have exercised the simple, deep, profound faith that children express. It’s the simple trust that children have when you hold them in your arms. It’s the trust that Kinley expressed when, with her cape around her neck, you held her and flew her about the room. Her smile, her joy, communicated her trust in you, her father, that she was safe in your arms. And even as she drew near to the end of her life, she was safe in your arms, in Tristin’s arms, in her grandparents arms, in the doctors, nurses and staff arms, and in Jesus’ arms.

“And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them.” The blessing of a father to a child was a big deal in those days. We’ve lost something of this meaning today, I think. But it was such a big deal that Jacob went to great lengths to cheat his brother Esau out of it. When Jacob, nearing the end of his life gave out blessings on his children, and on Joseph’s children, Joseph tried to get Jacob to bless his sons as he wanted them blessed, but Jacob crossed his arms in order to bless the younger ahead of the older.

This picture, then, of Jesus taking these children, possessors of a simple, yet profoundly strong faith, into His arms and blessing them is powerful, amazing, and wonderful. Peter and Tristin, you have entrusted Kinley to Jesus. You have, and continue to entrust Oaklynn also.

Beloved family, friends, all who are gathered here this afternoon, won’t you exercise the same, simple faith in Jesus? He who makes all things beautiful in His time has brought you here, to this moment, this time in eternity. Don’t worry that you can’t fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Trust Him, to hold you, while you be happy and do good while you life. Trust Him as He provides food and drink and satisfaction in all the toil of life—this is the gift of God. Everthing God does endures forever, revere Him.

Today, Peter and Tristin, Rod and Lori, Iain and Janet, Larry, Elsa, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, Jesus invites you to come to Him. People who don’t understand who Jesus really is, might try to keep you away and even rebuke you, but Jesus says, “let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity. He is the one who invites you. Accept Him with the simple faith like a child—unpretentious, trusting, believing. Like a good father, Jesus proves that He will never, ever let us go. Amen.