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I love kids; they make me laugh.

I have three of my own and through the years, I have laughed so hard (and cried with the same intensity) that I thought I’d bust a gut.

When they were little, they mimicked our worst behaviors, made hilarious faces that we missed because our camera was always out of batteries and said amazingly profound stuff.

Like the three 7-year-olds who were asked when it was OK to kiss someone. Pam replied, “When they’re rich.”

Curt answered like any good, law-abiding youngster would, “The law says you have to be 18, so I wouldn’t mess with that.”

Howard replied just like his momma taught him, “The rule goes like this: ‘If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them.’ It’s the right thing to do.”

Children are precious. And because I have three of my own, three nieces, a nephew and a few other little people who like me, I am rich beyond measure.

Jesus, who was hounded by the wealthy, questioned by the religious elite and surrounded by adult comrades, said, “Let the little children come to me … for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

I think Jesus loved children too. Not only did he enjoy the twinkle in their eyes and their contagious laughter, but their hearts were undamaged yet by cynicism and hatred.

Jesus could see their simple faith and what their futures could hold if someone cared enough to invest in them.

Did you know that if you invested your time and energy into the life of a young child today that you could change the course of history?

Research shows that habits of the first seven years are indelibly established in a person’s life. So just imagine if you taught a child to pray, to read the Bible, to give generously to others and to God.

What would happen if a whole generation of young kids grew to be prayer warriors, lived by the standards of the Bible and gave of their wealth instead of hoarding it and spending it on themselves?

The 19th century American evangelist J.W. Chapman once told this story:

ITAL I was standing in Tiffany's great store in New York when I heard the salesman say, “Madam, this pearl is worth $17,000.”

I was interested and asked, “Could I please see the pearl?”

The salesman put it on a piece of black cloth, and I studied it carefully.

As I looked around that beautiful store, I imagined them bringing all of their stock up to my house and saying, “We want you to take care of this tonight.”

What do you think I would do? I would go to the telephone and call up the chief of police and say, “I have all of Tiffany's stock in my house. Will you send some of your trusted officers to help me ensure its safety?”

I have a little boy in my house, and for him I am responsible. If I had all the diamonds and rubies and pearls in one hand and just the little boy in the other, the boy would be worth more than all the jewels. END ITAL

Look around you right now. Nothing, absolutely nothing in your view, is worth half as much as your child or your grandchild or the little boy next door.

They are not only our future, but they are the best part of our today.

(Larry and Linda Kloster sponsor this column.)

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