Unless you become like a little child!

 
Unless you become like a little child!
By Joyce Pelletier

2 Corinthians 6:18 “And I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty.

Growing up in the forties and fifties was difficult. Oh, I know there were many times in the history of man that were difficult. We seem to cling on to what we know. So, I guess my aim is the growing up years following the Second War. Twenty years later came the Waltons. It was a time so many of us related to. It was coming out of a Depression, and then coming back in so many different trends, music, relationships. 

We lived in a small town of about 6,000 people. Everybody knew everybody. There were no strangers. Life started to come alive again. Yet, from where we came, there was those who had a lot of and those who didn’t. So often I felt so alone. 

I was raised with hand-me-down clothes, and I was okay with that. From the time I could remember I was at church. It our Catholic church, each summer we had our own type of VBS. We heard about Jesus, each Mass had a story about Jesus that had special meaning. As a child of 5 when I went to church with my brother, I knew I had to behave, sit still and listed to God’s Word. Sad thing is I don’t recall any of the stories, other than Christmas and Easter. My favorite time was Midnight Mass when I’d sing in the choir. Our principle of our local school had a tenor voice that you never forgot. He’d always sing O Holy Night! I’ll always remember that as being something important, but I didn’t grasp it until the past few years. 

Brent’s message this past week brought the truth I’m come to love and grasp. It’s a message I’ll never forget. Going back and remembering that solo of O Holy Night gave me a starting point, that  keeps pulling be back. 

Galatians 3:6-7 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Sons into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba Father’. So you are no longer a slave, but a child and since you are a child, God has made you also an heir.

You are a child of God. He has adopted you into His Kingdom, welcomed you with a love that will never be taken away. The gift he has given us cannot be and will not ever be destroyed. Things may get tough and even ugly at times, but He never leaves your side.

I am so very grateful for knowing this truth. When I do wrong, He’s ready to help me back into the right place with holy forgiveness. Thie reality has given me such hope and Joy. I am a child of God and that is all I need.