Only A Ten-Year-Old

Posted bymalcolmsmusingscomPosted inUncategorized
Image: Jamie Smart

Yesterday evening I was doing a sudoku, listening to the evening news, reflecting on the day’s conversations… four friends I know well… a redundancy after twenty-five years… counselling following a stressful time at work… returning home after difficult days in hospital… preparing to start a course of radiotherapy…

I’m aware… a child’s being interviewed on the TV news. It’s only a ten-year-old. She’s fluent, well spoken, confident without being cocky. I start listening… this Welsh girl’s won a prize… She’s speaking with knowledge and passion about photographing nature…

It’s the ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ awards…. 60,000 pictures from 113 different countries… London’s Natural History Museum… The winner’s South African… a Brazilian’s won another prize… The only British winner is in the ‘Ten-and-under’ category… Jamie Smart’s picture of an orb weaver spider.    

Image: Jamie Smart – Winner of 10 Years and Under category- ‘The Weaver’s Lair’

Jamie first borrowed her dad’s camera when she was six… She’s worked with wildlife photographers in Australia, winning competitions there… Earlier this year she won an award at the global ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’. Only a ten-year-old?

At this week’s church home group we were reflecting on ‘The Feeding of the Five Thousand’. Jesus and his disciples don’t have the resources to feed a crowd of over ten thousand hungry people…

…Then a young boy – perhaps only a ten-year-old – steps up …Jesus feeds the crowd with his ‘five small barley loaves and two small fish’… they ‘all had enough to eat’. I’ve heard, read, told the story, many, many times.

What struck me this time was that a young boy did what no adult did. Jesus chose to use him – not a well-known leader, wise teacher, or experienced expert. Only a ten-year-old held the solution to the problem faced by thousands of people.

Image: Jamie Smart’s ‘The Rutting Call’ received “highly commended” runner up status at the global Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards

I’m reminded again. Children are capable of more than we can imagine. If we expect less we get less. They should be included, given a place at the table, not as a patronising gesture, nor as spoilt, over-important royalty, but as themselves, each bringing their valuable, unique, creative contribution.  

22 thoughts on “Only A Ten-Year-Old”

  1. Well written Malcolm.

    I am also a great believer in “Give a child responsibility and they will behave responsibly”.

    I am also a great believer in giving children pocket money from an early age so they can learn the value of money. Our girls knew that if they spent their pocket money as soon as they got it we didn’t mind at all. But, they didn’t get anymore.

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    1. Thanks, Alan. I never fail to be impressed when I hear a young person speaking with enthusiasm and knowledge. In our teaching days we were privileged to encounter quite a few… I can recall children teaching me about fishing, drumming, pheasant shooting, caring for sick parents…. Jamie Smart’s interview last night was really impressive!

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      1. I remember running the badminton club and having to hold back with the Year 6s. But, then struggling when they became Year 8s and often much better than me.

        Of course there is the funny, if a bit scary side, that some older teachers may be completely unaware of what their pupils are doing on their mobiles when they say they are “just looking something up on Google Sir/Madame”

        Actually, do they call female teachers madame nowadays? Or, do they call all female members of staff “Miss”?

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  4. Your post reminds me what an honor and privilege it is to work with children every day. It’s encouraging to see ten-year-olds who believe in the future—their future. We can learn much from these who, as Dickens said, “Are so fresh from God.” Thank you, Malcolm. You’ve reminded me why I do what I do for a living. 🙏Blessings to you and yours.

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    1. Spot on, David. Looking back, working in a school was more than a job… it was a vocation… it was a privilege. All of the good teachers that I knew (and there were many) invested themselves in the children.

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