Unless you become as little children...

Dearest Ones,

Recently, I read about a young college student in Chicago, Jerry, who had been raised as an atheist. In fact, his parents tried their best to teach him there is no God. His roommate, Joe, was a Christian and was not silent about it. He tried his best to convert his friend, but he never had any success. Jerry was an excellent swimmer and even trained for the Olympics. One evening, as he was driving home, he decided to go for a late night swim. Since he knew the pool area so well, he didn't bother to turn on the lights. He made his way to the diving board and decided to do a backward jump - as he backed up on the diving board, he put his arms straight out and it was at that moment his shadow caught his eye - with his arms outstretched, his body made a distinct cross. As he saw this cross, he immediately became a believer and was so overcome with emotion that he fell to his knees. Just then the evening security guard came along and noticed him. He shouted, "Be careful, don't jump!" Because it was dark, Jerry had not seen the sign, "POOL IS DRAINED FOR CLEANING." If he had not gone down on his knees, he would have been killed or paralyzed. The sign of the Cross had saved him and made him a believer. And what if his roommate had not tried to teach him about the cross and all that Jesus suffered to save him? What if he had remained silent instead of sharing his faith? He not only saved a life, he may have saved a soul! If you have faith, cherish it, and thank God for it every day. Many people do not have faith, which means they think they are in control of their lives. I wonder what Jesus meant when he replied to the question: "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus called a little child to come to him. He stood the child before them and said, "You must change and become like this little child. If you don't do this, you will never enter heaven. The greatest person in heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child. Whoever receives one little child in my name receives me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy stone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matthew 18: 1-14) This means as long as we are grownups, we can't get to heaven? "Unless you change," Jesus insists, "you won't enter heaven." But who wants to be a child again? Don't we spend most of our childhood trying to grow up? So what did Jesus mean? What is it about children that Jesus likes so much? Children can't do so many things - can't drive, can't choose what school to attend, can't vote, etc. Who wants to be easily hurt, powerless and humble like a child? As a child, I was completely dependent on my parents for just about everything. I asked for all of my needs and took my parents for granted. As adults, I don't think Jesus wants us to be dependent on our parents. I believe Jesus was talking about our spiritual life. He wants our relationship with Him to be as a humble, helpless child, who trusts completely in God's loving care. It means complete surrender and not to worry about tomorrow. A small child can't really do anything except receive and give love. Maybe that's what Jesus wants of me. A child is full of excitement, trust and joy, expecting a surprise at every minute. Certainly, as an adult, we need to plan, to work and earn a living, but we can still be full of excitement and cherish every minute God gives us. Children don't worry. They have not yet learned to be cynical, judgmental or critical. God wants us to depend on Him and not to depend on ourselves. It's hard to believe, that He wants to take our problems to Himself. Children depend on their parents, as we depend on God! Let's give our problems and worries to Him. I pray we will all become as little children. Lord, help me to have a childlike faith; to believe in You.

All my love and prayers,
Sister Francelle