ABSTRACT
The approach in this chapter will be to build up a picture of what it might look like for children to experience God’s love by highlighting a number of relevant passages and themes. As such it will not be an exhaustive treatment of what the Bible has to say on the matter, but will at least identify a range of important questions to consider. The starting point will be to focus on the language of ‘blessing’ through a reflection on Aaron’s prayer of blessing in Num. 6 and a story of Jesus’ blessing of children in Mark 10. Particular emphasis is placed on unpacking what blessing and peace look like in these passages. This will be followed by a brief exploration of the four following themes: the significance of bearing the image of God, the call to justice and righteousness, the question of agency, and the need for lament. As such it is shown how spirituality is multifaceted and so, attending to the spirituality of children must be appropriately nuanced in order that they might experience blessing and peace in their different relationships: in themselves, in community, in creation, and with God and in God’s purposes.
