As my small children have reached different milestones in their lives, it has been such a gift to see them continue to wonder at being on earth and having a soul. My son recently was expressing how wild it is just “to be alive,” and I remember having similar thoughts and feelings as I slowly grew to the age of reason as a child.

As I have loved seeing this continued stream of thought, I am reminded of Matthew 18:3: “Unless you become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” When I think about this passage, I am often drawn into a common reflection that depicts deep trust of the Lord and maintaining a position of innocence before Him. However, I think that Christ, in all His infinite wisdom, knows that children are so much more than innocence and little people of trust. They are naturally joyful, in awe of so many things, lovers of fun and adventure, and very receptive to the deep love people have for them. In this way, I believe that when the Lord calls us to be like little children, we are not simply being called to innocence and trust. We are called to be a people of joy, of wonder, of delight in His Love and of being alive.

We are called to be a people of awe. May we always ask for the renewal of our minds so that we never lose sight of how incredible it is that He has breathed us into existence.

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Wisdom from the Saints:

“I rejoice to be little, because only children and those who are like them will be admitted to the heavenly banquet.”

// St. Therese of Lisieux

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Scripture Quote:

He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:2-4 RSVCE