Act like a Child (of God)

One of the advantages of being a Child of God is that everything that is His, you may claim for yourself. Realize that your Father owns the entire universe! He created you, and he will surely give you anything that you need.

When you are having trouble finding it in yourself to be kind or generous or loving, remember that your Father has infinite stores of whatever grace you may need. Don’t be afraid of being presumptuous when it comes to prayer. Ask him for anything, for he has promised –

“You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (John 14:13-14)

The following is an excerpt from Story of a Soul by St Therese of Lisieux. She captures this concept so sweetly I had to share:

“I always had to find the means to touch everything…in the Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem (in Rome) we were able to venerate several pieces of the true cross…so I found a way of slipping my little finger into one of the openings in the reliquary, and I was able to touch the nail that was bathed in the blood of Jesus…I really was too daring!…Fortunately, God, who sees into the depths of the heart knows that my intention was pure, and that for nothing in the world would I have wanted to displease him. I acted toward him like a child who thinks that everything is allowed her, and who regards her Father’s treasures as her own [Lk. 15:31] (pp. 158-159).

Therese de Lisieux, Saint (2006). Story of a Soul (R.J. Edmonson, Ed. & Trans.). Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press. (Original work published 1873).