Mk 10:13-16
13People were bringing children to [Jesus] that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” 16Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.
Let the children come to me: The little children are not being told to go to Jesus. They are coming to him. Jesus must be a loving, kind, and happy person for children to rush to him and ask his blessing. He must be a natural when it comes to children—carrying them, embracing them, and blessing them.
A sign of true kindness and gentleness, they say, is when children are naturally drawn to you. Children do not go near a grouchy, sour person. You are truly wise when children can understand what you are saying. You are truly holy when children freely jump on you to be blessed and embraced.
St. Francis of Assisi must have been so holy that not only children flocked to him but also the birds and the sun went out to greet him!