Reflection: A Child's Prayer...

Now the Word of the Lord came to me saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I consecrated you; a prophet to the nations I appointed you. Jeremiah 1:5

Jesus has a plan for you.  He calls you to come to Him as you are, come before Him with all of your problems and worries. Come messy, come with stumbling words. It does not matter if you get prayer right, what matters is that you come before Him without any pretense and ask for His guidance and help. Trust less in yourself and trust more in Him.

On many occasions, Jesus told His disciples to become like little children. Imagine what these grown men must have thought when Jesus told them that they needed to become like little children. The disciples seemed to have struggled with this teaching of Jesus as we see many instances of Jesus telling them this over and over again throughout the Gospels.  Jesus then took a little child and had the child stand among them. Jesus took the child in His arms and told the disciples that unless they become like children they will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.

Ask Jesus to help you be like a little child. Let Him take you by the hand and open your heart to Him. Tell Him your pain, hurts, worries, fears and struggles and thank Him for all He has done for you. Ask Jesus to hold you now and let Him love you...

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-4

Recently I was driving in the car listening to music with a little five year old. She asked for her favorite song, All in All. It was beautiful to listen as she sang the words with all her heart:

You are my strength when I am weak; You are the treasure that I seek; You are my All in All. When I fall down, You pick me up; when I am dry, You fill my cup; You are my All in All. Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is Your Name. Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is Your Name.

Heavenly Father, we ask You to bless all the families for whom we pray. Teach us to pray and sing like little children. We thank You for the gift of Your Son Jesus, for the Holy Spirit and for Our Blessed Mother Mary.