First Class

Walking home tonight, I met a lil girl. She was obviously going home before it got dark from her friend's house. She surprised me when she boldly said "I'm in first class! What class are you??" I was taken back for a second, because most kids are shy, and, the legitimacy of her simple question to an adult who took it from a different perspective. After a surprised laugh, I answered her "I'm in third and fourth class!" Kids say the darnest things, but this one made me stop and think about the Samaritans that were looked down by the Jews because they were not full blooded Jews, and therefore not first class. Then there's that story about the Caananite woman who begged Jesus to heal her demon possessed daughter. He answered and said he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. Still she begged and worshipped Him. He said, It's not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. She replied and said that even the little pups eat the crumbs that fell from their master's table. I think Jesus was impressed, and told her that her faith was great and her daughter was healed that moment. To me, this situation occurs in some churches who take it upon themselves to make legalistic rules that make it hard for certain people to participate (divorced, separated, gamblers, etc.) I feel like a little dog because I fit that category, but I worship and get involved anyway because God knows my heart. "Unless we repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], we can never enter the kingdom of heaven."