Child-like vs. child-ish

Steve Montforo might win the "Dad of the Year" award for his reaction to his daughter's return of the foul ball he caught at the Phillies game the other day.


What a great reminder of how much our heavenly Father loves us--unconditionally!  No matter how many gifts we don't accept, He is waiting for us with open arms to return to His embrace.

But what a great lesson we can learn from little Emily, too.  Jesus reminds us that we are to be child-like in order to gain the Kingdom.  "...for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ... whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." (Mark 10:14-15)  This, of course, is not to be confused with being child-ish--ie. wanting others to do things for us, complaining or not using the intelligence God gave us.  Emily turns to her dad after realizing that perhaps throwing the ball over the balcony wasn't the right thing to do and runs into his embrace.  She throws all of her trust into her father who will protect her.

St. Therese of Lisieux taught us how to work at perfection in the little things.  At the young age of 15, after a emotionally difficult childhood (her mother died when she was four), she entered the Carmelites (a religious community).  She offered up her small annoyances for the salvation of sinners, priests and missionaries.  St. Therese knew that obtaining holiness was something huge, but that God loved her so much that it had to be obtainable, even for a young girl.  So, she she set out to plot a new path.  She describes her path as being very straight, very short and a new way, one of making everyday sacrifices for the sake of a soul.

How can we imitate this "little way"?  There is a story, that St. Therese grew very annoyed at the clacking of the rosary beads one Sister wore.  Each time she grew frustrated by this sound, she offered the annoyance up (meaning she didn't complain to others about it or send darting looks at the Sister) to Christ for a soul in need of conversion.  What little way could you pave toward heaven this week?  How can you be more child-like this week?