Jesus loves the little children. Some of the faith’s greatest warriors both literally and figuratively were children. The shepherd boy David, the great Joan of Arc, Therese of Lisieux, and the three young shepherd children from Fatima to name a few. David was in his late teens when he slew Goliath with a sling and a stone, Joan was 17 when she led an army to several impressive victories. Our Lady Of Fatima appeared to three young shepherd children. The “Little Way” and one of the great Doctors of the Church is St. Teresé and she was 24 when she died. Jesus said blessed are the little children. They are priceless treasures. Do you remember when you were a child? The sense of wonder, joy, love, faith you had? Everything seemed more alive, brighter, happier. Anything was possible and everything was amazing. When we look at life through the eyes of a child we see life with joy and wonder and grace. Beauty and music are everywhere around you if you can believe it to be so. The wind through the trees, the grass beneath your feet, the sun in the sky, the storms, all life sings for sheer joy of being alive. Worries are less, and grace is more, time is endless, excitement for what tomorrow has in store. Jesus loves the little children. The warrior is a child. We are God’s Children and we are called to be like the children. To trust completely in God, to see with the eyes of love and simplicity. Life doesn’t have to be complicated; we often make it so. When we are tired and scared, we can run to the fortress of our Faith and find safety, strength and rest. Our King does not stay safe in his castle, but fights for us, with us, He is always present and close at hand. When we fall he is there to help us up again. He gives us the strength to keep going and sometimes he holds us to him while we shake and cry inside our armor because the warrior is a child. Jesus loves the little children. As the great song says so simply: “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong. Yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.” It is crazy to think just how loved we really are. “There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for a friend.” And that is exactly what God did for us by sending his one and only child to be killed and to die in the worst manner possible so that we who didn’t/can’t deserve it were given the opportunity to experience this perfect divine love. God our Father loves us in the same perfect divine eternal love that is expressed by the the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus loves the little children. We are His children. Never lose the child inside especially when life is dark and stormy. Jump and dance in the puddles and look with wonder as the sun breaks through and a vibrant rainbow stretches it’s arms across the sky. Life gets a little better when you don’t forget the child. Jesus loves the little children and He loves you and me!