Come to Me As Little Children

Recently, our daughter Elizabeth Rose had her dance recital, and as a tribute for Father's Day, she and I danced a waltz and foxtrot combination with several other fathers and daughters.

I had to go to several evening practices with Elizabeth, and I truly enjoyed the time with her. We laughed and joked and had many memorable experiences trying to get the dance steps down. I will never forget the look in her eyes when we danced. It was as if she were saying, "I love you Daddy, and there is nothing greater than being close to you."

It reminded me of our interacting with Jesus, and how we are to be as simple and pure as a little child. We should not be afraid to approach Him, to interact with Him as a friend, and talk to Him as a brother.

Jesus wants us to come to him as a little child. What does that mean? It means to come to Him with trust and full confidence that He will never abandon us.

Elizabeth Rose doesn't worry about her next meal or her college education; she trusts her mom and dad and runs to us with open arms, knowing that we will never abandon her. That is how we must look at Jesus and our spiritual journey. Even though we may have to walk through a burning bush and suffer in this valley of tears, we will have inner peace on earth and a joy beyond all understanding when we see Him in Heaven.

The Lord made it clear to St. Faustina that the more we trust in Him and try to live in His will and not ours, the more graces we will receive. He told her, "Tell [all people] my daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls" (Diary of St. Faustina, 1074).

Trust in God is easy when things are going well. However, in times of trial and suffering, doubt appears, and we wonder "where is God?" or "Does He really exist?" Financial ruin, the sudden death of a loved one, divorce, and drug-addicted children are just a few of the painful episodes in life that we can use to draw nearer to Him. But trust in God is the key. We must let it be the life vest to hold onto when we feel we are drowning.

Think about Job, who lost his family, health and wealth. Through his persistent trial, God never informed him why it was happening. Job didn't curse God; instead, he marveled at the wonders of God's creation and knew that he should trust in the Creator in times of suffering.

Just as with Job and his sufferings, the experience of being diagnosed with cancer, losing a loved one in an accident, being fired from a job - all these are examples of trials in daily life that make us realize how vulnerable we are and what little control we actually have.

In times of struggle and frustration, we should have the attitude of Peter who said, "'Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word, I will let down the nets.' When they had done that they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them" (Lk 5:5-7). This attitude obviously requires a great faith. However, in times of trial, our faith is tested, and that is when we must trust in Him. We must believe the reality that we are merely pilgrims on earth for a short time, and that all these temporary things will pass. As spiritual warriors, we must "walk by faith, not by sight " (2 Cor 5:7).

So, today let us put all our trials and tribulations at the foot of the Cross, and maintain an attitude of peace and trust in God, as we say with great conviction, ":Jesus, I trust in You!"

Dr. Bryan Thatcher is the founder of Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy (EADM), an apostolate of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. Learn more about EADM.
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