“Come Simeon, we’re going to hear the Teacher” Simeon’s mother took her five-year-old’s hand to lead him away from his play things and play area.
“Can’t I stay with Grandmother? There won’t be other children where the Teacher is.”
“You do not know that,” Miriam explained to her son. “Besides, I have a special feeling the right thing to do is to take you to see Him.”
Simeon relinquished the toy he’d been holding and gave in to following his mother’s leading hand. Maybe there would be children there to play with. So, Simeon made the best of his mother’s instructions. He would go without argument.
Mother and son walked hand in hand across the town of Capernaum and entered their friends’ home where a couple dozen or so people had already gathered.
The Teacher was sitting amidst a dozen men, the ones known as His disciples, who listened intently to His words which seemed to be intended specifically for them. Yet, all others in the house seemed just as curious about what He was saying.
Simeon had picked up a fig leaf on the trek across town and was squatting on the floor near the Teacher and His disciples, using it to sweep back and forth as a make-believe broom. He was oblivious to the words all the adults were listening to with such interest; they were mere background noise to him.
But the Teacher got Simeon’s attention when He reached down, picked him up and placed him on His lap. The Teacher spoke to His disciples about being like the child sitting in His lap, but Simeon didn’t understand what He meant or even exactly what He said.
All eyes were on Simeon and, even though children were not usually smiled at in public, everyone was smiling, some almost laughing.
The Teacher kissed Simeon lightly on the cheek and placed him back on the floor; Simeon returned to his sweeping game.
Soon, the Teacher stopped talking and people began to murmur and move about the room.
Mirium took Simeon by the hand. “Let us return home, son.” Simeon and his mother walked out of the house and onto the street. As they navigated the busy streets of Capernaum, Mirium whispered excitedly to Simeon. “God used you today, Simeon. The Teacher made you an example for His followers. I am so very glad you went with me.”
Simeon felt glad, too.
He took a little child whom He placed among them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent Me…If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in Me – to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.” (Mark 9:36, 37, 42)