It helps every now and then to put our adult brains on an even keel with children. These little ones have a different way of seeing things that just helps us to appreciate truth in a much more uncluttered way.
Take for instance the little one who was returning (with others of the children in our parish) to the gathered assembly yesterday. On the way, he asked one of the adults who was accompanying the children, How many more songs until Mass is over?: shades of the way children will inquire about how many more sleeps until the arrival of their approaching birthday or a major holiday like Christmas.
The response quickly uttered, Two (which was correct from the adult brain who was thinking about the Communion Hymn and the Recessional Hymn. The only difficulty was that we were only part way through the Eucharistic Prayer at the time, so there were also musical moments for the Great Amen and the Lamb of God to be sung. In the child's mind there were therefore four more 'songs' to be sung.
I wonder if the youngster noticed. I'm willing to bet that even if the answer was yes, there was also a forgiving heart, ready to excuse the slight oversight on the part of the adult brain.
Take for instance the little one who was returning (with others of the children in our parish) to the gathered assembly yesterday. On the way, he asked one of the adults who was accompanying the children, How many more songs until Mass is over?: shades of the way children will inquire about how many more sleeps until the arrival of their approaching birthday or a major holiday like Christmas.
The response quickly uttered, Two (which was correct from the adult brain who was thinking about the Communion Hymn and the Recessional Hymn. The only difficulty was that we were only part way through the Eucharistic Prayer at the time, so there were also musical moments for the Great Amen and the Lamb of God to be sung. In the child's mind there were therefore four more 'songs' to be sung.
I wonder if the youngster noticed. I'm willing to bet that even if the answer was yes, there was also a forgiving heart, ready to excuse the slight oversight on the part of the adult brain.
There is a lot of truth in this perspective. I find it hard sometime to see my children as the kids they are...I'll project adult expectations on them and it usually does not turn out very good. When I treat them as they are, God's Children, I am always pleasantly surprise at the outcome.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder!