I may not be able to fix stuff real good. I’ve tried and tried. I also may not be the most successful radio person in history. That’s a pretty safe bet, now that I think about it.
I also may not win a Pulitzer or Nobel for my book-writing. That’s a safe bet, too. But in the end, if and when people remember me, they may say, “You know what? That Brant guy sure played with a lot of kids.”
Now THAT I have done it, and I’ve done it everywhere. I’ve played with kids in Kenya and Indonesia and Haiti and Afghanistan and El Salvador. And then there’s Senegal, where they schooled me in soccer, and India, where they were amused at my attempt to play cricket.
I’ve gotten to dance with kids in Niger and twirl kids in Thailand. I’ve gotten to play, and play with abandon, in Rwanda and Mexico and Uganda and Peru and Zambia. Ethiopia, too. Lots of playing with kids and balloons there.
I could go on, but you get the point. I’m so thankful for the memories of giggling kids. But one thing was pretty consistent: In all these places, I noticed grown men don’t play with kids. It’s just not something they typically do in traditional cultures. It’s weird to them.
Jesus Said Let the Children Come to Me
All this to say: I’m sure Jesus’ culture was that way. So I love imagining him playing with kids, and playing all-out, laughing and twirling the kids and enjoying them. His disciples would be scandalized. But he just keeps doing it.
They may have been embarrassed. They wanted to take the kids away. No self-respecting, full-grown man, a rabbi no less, would be so undignified.
Jesus said if you’ve seen him, you’ve seen the Father.
Imagine that. This is God? This is not normal. Zeus does not play with little kids. Thor does not play with little kids. Allah does not play with little kids.
The God of the Bible? He’s all in. He defends the little ones. He even tells us, in Matthew 18:2-5, that if we want to enter His kingdom, we need to be like them.
And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:2-5
I can love a God like that.
Brant Hansen
Morning Show Host, STAR 99.1
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Enjoy your show. U r a humble and straight forward man. If I were a radio host I would come off sounding a lot like you. Goofy and not afraid to celebrate it. Bravo
This was beautifully written . Thank you
Thank you so much Brant. I love star 99.1. I really like your radio station. Thank you for posting the previous about Jesus playing with the children. I loved it. I’m not sure how to share with my friends on social media but I tell you if I did I would. Thank you.
Yes! Playing with kids is a wonderful way to share Jesus & His love! Way to go Brant! Love listening to you & Sherry on 93.3 from Cincinnati. You both are such a great encouragement & bring a smile to my face. I listen at work too. Thank you for sharing God’s love with others. Such a safe, comforting place to listen to music.
Thank you for that awesome reminder that we, even as adults are children of the Most High! Our Heavenly Father (Abba) loves us and wants us to come to him with every part of us. He created us in His image. He knows how many hairs are on our heads! We are to love as He loves and trust Him in all areas of our life! He promises to work all things out for our good regardless of whether or not we understand when, where and how. What an awesome God we serve!!