"‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God 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." Jesus (Mark 10:14b-16)

"Careful the things you say, children will listen." Stephen Sondheim ("Into the Woods")

Jesus warns us Christ-followers to not do or say anything that will hinder a person on their path to spiritual union with God and faithful living in the ways of God. I see this not so much as a "better watch what you say, or else!" but as in invitation to measure our thoughts and deeds.

What we say and do can help a person on their path of faithfulness to God. However, we can also carelessly or hurtfully say things that hurt others or worse, cause them to veer away from or abandon their walk with God.
I know of many persons who have given up on God because of mean-spirited preaching. And many persons have been turned away from God by hot-headed emotional responses to expressed views. And others who just never had someone spend time to simply listen to them as tried to sort through tough issues and find direction.

May we honor each person, listen to their journey, and encourage them along paths of love, peace, justice that lead to God.