Vivian and Jonah Waltz kneeling in prayer.". . . And a Little Child Shall Lead Them"

By Vivian R. Waltz and Nancy L. Giese

For Immediate Release: January 29, 2005

Jonah and Hannah are truly bewildered by the recent slandering of two of their best animated friends, SpongeBob and Buster.

As mothers of a nine-year-old son and a seven-year-old daughter, we choose to protect our children from many forms of violence, but religious and political violence are lamentable realities we want them to know about, and beware!

So we told Jonah and Hannah about the man [James Dobson of Focus on the Family] who doesn't want kids to see a new video that has lots of their favorite cartoon buddies in it, like SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer, Jimmy Neutron, Madeleine, and Arthur. We told them that the video is about everyone loving everyone just the way God made us.

I told Jonah that a lot of people think this Dr. Dobson man speaks for God about what is the best thing for families. I told him that Dr. Dobson said if kids watch the video, they will think that it's ok to be gay. I even told Jonah that some of Dr. Dobson's friends said that SpongeBob is gay.

Jonah was incredulous. "Whaaat? I don't get it, Mom. Why do they think SpongeBob is gay?"

"I don't know, Jonah. I think it's because they know that a lot of people don't like gay people so they figure if they say SpongeBob is gay, people won't let their kids watch the video. I think I heard something about SpongeBob and Patrick holding hands. . . "

"That's ridiculous! They're best friends, Mom! Why can't they hold hands?" I detected a sudden quiver in Jonah's voice.

There was more sad news for Jonah and Hannah the next day. We had to tell them about the woman [Margaret Spellings, the new Secretary of Education] who works for the American government to make our schools better. We told them that she won't let PBS show a "Postcards from Buster" program because there's a family in it with two mothers.

"Mom, that's ridiculous." (A favorite word of Jonah's these days-- of mine, too, unfortunately.) "Why can't a woman marry a woman? How come people are so mean?"

Over 200 miles away in her own TV room, Hannah echoed Jonah's sentiments. "Isn't it mean to tell people they cannot love each other? I love this [Postcards From Buster] show because it shows all kinds of people getting along together."

In both of our families, we talk about all kinds of people getting along together and being families. Jonah knows that being gay is about men loving men and women loving women. Even though he doesn't know all about sex yet, he knows it's not about sex. It's about feelings. He thinks that people can love anybody. He thinks that when you love someone you get married. He thinks that if you ask, God will give you children and then you're a family.

Hannah and Katie Giese praying.Hannah seems to agree. She doesn't understand why we can't see a Buster show just because there's a family with two moms. "That's just stupid. There are all sorts of families and some have just moms or just dads and some have moms AND dads or two moms and dads and some even have grandmas for moms!"

We moms are proud when our children stand up for others who are different and say, "They are family, too." We are inspired when they speak out for what is just and loving and right. These are light-bulb moments when Christian mothers realize that carting our children to Sunday School week after week has made a lasting impression. It's hard not to get teary when we get a glimpse of the "Golden Rule" shining in them.

The prophet Isaiah foretold that "a little child shall lead them." Our children will lead us in the way of love because they are being led by the One who came as a child to show us the way, the truth, and the life. We can only look on in humble adoration as we witness our children embracing God made flesh in the purity of their hearts.

"People were bringing little children to Jesus so that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, 'Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.' And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them." (Mark 10:13-16 NRSV)

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The Rev. Vivian R. Waltz, is chair of communications committee and the Rev. Nancy L. Giese is chair of the program committee of the National Council of Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns, Inc.

Photos above: 1. Jonah and his mother pray outside Pittsburgh's David Lawrence Convention Center at the 2004 General Conference of the United Methodist Church. Jonah joined the vigil to pray "that the Church will let gay people in." Used by permission of Dewayne and Ginnie Lowther. 2. Hannah (left) and sister Katie pray at home.

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