How the Young and the Old Learn from Each Other
CRYSTAL
As a regular reader of the Catholic magazine Magnificat, I have appreciated many aspects of the monthly publication, including summaries of the lives of little known saints, daily mass readings, as well as reflections relating to the Scriptures from both lay and religious contributors. This month, I was surprised and amused by a different type of introduction to the monthly edition, as presented by Rev. Peter John Cameron, O.P. He shared an anecdote that he found online:
“A kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of kids while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child’s work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, “I’m drawing God.” The teacher paused and said, “But no one knows what God looks like.” Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, “They will in a minute.”
No Good Bye
This story of a little girl’s confidence delighted me! It may be that her response resonated with me in a particular way because Kevin and I currently have the joy of living under the same roof with our three grandchildren ages 6, 4 and 2. As we daily experience the world from their perspective and hear their questions and responses to matters of faith, I have come to better appreciate that in their simplicity of thought, they may well have as much or more appreciation for the things of faith than I do.
For example, about a year ago, I was leaving daily mass with our young grandson and encouraged him to genuflect to say ‘good-bye’ to Jesus. He responded simply that he didn’t need to say good-bye because Jesus is always with him. Indeed! I stood corrected.
Why Mosquitoes?
On another occasion, I sat in the bedroom with our granddaughter during a violent thunderstorm that had frightened her. As we whiled away the time, she started asking questions about what I did every morning as I sat in my chair in my prayer room. When I answered that I was talking to God, she asked if He ever talked back. I responded that He did, but not in a physical voice, but in ways that came up in the different things that I would read about in my reflection book, or in thoughts that I had. She then asked me to please take a question to God that had been troubling her: “Why did God make mosquitoes?” I promised her to ask Him and after I quietly assured her that it was safe to go to sleep I snuck downstairs and googled all the possible good things there were about mosquitoes. J
I am trying to convey through both of these examples how absolutely privileged I am to be reminded of some basics of the faith from our young grandchildren. I am delighted by Joe’s absolute conviction of Jesus’ ubiquitous presence, and Grace’s trust that God has a purpose for all things in His creation. In fact, not only am I delighted; I am challenged to enter into my relationship with the Divine in a more child-like manner, with great confidence and trust.
Learning from a Child
Child-like trust has been a virtue for which I have been praying for a few years. It seems that God is answering my prayers by sending down that grace through the lives of our young grandchildren. When I see our little ones exhibit characteristics of faithfulness, such as humility or trust, it makes it easier for me to imitate those virtues. As an adult, it can be easy to fall into complacency in spiritual matters and take for granted the power of God alive in the world. For example, we can routinely enter into the marvelous happening of the Mass we attend, and rather than worshipping in awe, we yawn our way through the celebration. We might participate by sitting, standing and parroting back the appropriate responses, but then leave the church with no appreciation for what is arguably the most remarkable event that takes place in the world today.
A contrast to that type of detached experience is one I had just this last month as I attended a daily Mass with our four-year-old granddaughter. Sitting in the front row, she had a clear view of the priest during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. As she watched and listened to the priest saying the prayers at the altar, she started whispering, “Is that bread Jesus yet?” “No, not yet” I responded. She asked several more time and each time received the same reply. Finally, when the altar bells were rung, she asked again, “Is it Jesus now?” “Yes! It is Jesus!” I answered, and felt an incredible surge of love and gratitude well up in my heart.
Yes, I have ‘believed’ in transubstantiation for years. Yes, I have prayed for greater faith to bolster my belief in the Eucharist. But on this day, as my little one was in awe that NOW Jesus was really truly present, it was an even greater understanding. Four-year-old Grace has unwittingly taught me that I should never take for granted the incredible gift of the supernatural presence of Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist. She trusts in what she cannot see or understand. I will continue to pray that I will have that same childlike trust and to see that God is leading me to greater faithfulness through the people he places in my life, including its youngest members.
What Children Learn from Us
Of course, as adults we should be open to both learning valuable lessons from children as well as passing along the wisdom we have gleaned over the years. For example, our little Joey would not have known that God is always with him had he not been told this again and again by his mother. Grace would not have had the inclination to ask God about mosquitos had she not seen me every morning, sitting in my ‘prayer chair’ and conversing with God. And as much as our words have an impact on how others come to know the faith, our actions will inevitably speak even clearer. How many people have come to associate Christian faithfulness with Mother Teresa, perhaps not reading about or understanding her motivation for her selfless actions in ministering to the poor, but being drawn to the good will and love inherent in her actions?
When I read news reports about the decline of morals in young people, or hear people lament how self-absorbed and materialistic the young generation is, I wonder if there are simply not enough good examples of people who are living differently from the values of the secular world. And of course, we must always begin evaluating the answer to this question by examining our own lives. How do my actions demonstrate an awareness of God’s presence and love and my desire to bring that love into the world?
Pure acts of holiness are hard to ignore. They shine brightly all on their own. Perhaps for most of us they are only observed in venues like our own homes or workplace, but sometimes they even make it to the world stage. Mother Teresa’s exhortation to “do small things with great love” is perhaps the best means to live the faith and teach the faith to others. The beauty of her advice is that we can all put it into practice. We don’t need a degree or a title or money. Whether we are adults or children, we can accept her challenge and put it into practice, learning from each other and encouraging each other and thereby making the world a better place for future generations.
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