SHELTERED IN THE FATHER

What is it that makes childlike persons feel so very sheltered and safe and helps them live their life so naturally? On the one hand, they have a sound faith and confidence in their own strength; on the other hand, they know that they are surrounded by a strong, kind, faithful power, namely, father and mother. Under their authority they feel safe. Everything works out fine, even if the parents have to make great efforts to provide them with clothing and food. Children do not look into the future; they are confident that they can rely on their own strength and that a strong, kind, faithful power protects them. Thus, they live their life peacefully and contentedly.

Childlike love includes a very deep sense of security and belonging. Both the will and the emotions are sheltered.

With simple, enlightened confidence let us reach out for the Father's hands. We know that the heavenly Father has the power to protect and lead us; all we have to do is cling to his kind hands.

Infinite peace, tranquility and security re-echo in the words, “Abba, dear Father.”

Human beings need a nest. However, they will never find peace, unless they find their ultimate nest in the heart of God.

As human beings we are nest-bound; that is to say, we have a strong desire for a nest. What is God's purpose in letting us fall out of all kinds of secondary nests? He wants to bring us into the last nest, the ultimate nest of his most Sacred Heart.

The God-willed purpose of all insecurity and of feeling unsheltered is that we should seek greater security and shelter in the hands and in the heart of God. This applies to the individual as well as to society.

We should be on our guard against equating childlikeness primarily with feeling sheltered. We should rather equate it with self-surrender. The fruit of this self-surrender is a sense of security and belonging.

If we seek God selflessly, we find relaxation, happiness, and security.

The purpose of insecurity is the attainment of a higher degree of simple childlikeness. Therefore, we should often and sincerely ask God for a high degree of childlikeness. Childlikeness is the venture of our lives; in fact, the greatest venture of all. Childlikeness has nothing in common with softness. Anyone who is a simple child is a true hero.

Childlikeness gives us the strength to cope with all states of anxiety and even to overcome them to a great extent.

Unless we make great efforts to use the experience of insecurity in order to find and love God, we will always be weaklings.

A child remains calm and undisturbed in all states of insecurity and inner loneliness, until the heavenly Father draws the purified child all the more closely to his heart. Unless people use the experience of insecurity in order to find the final place of tranquility - God, they cannot become great and firm personalities.

God will not give me a heavier cross than I can carry.

If we have become children to some extent, we grow much more through great difficulties than through small ones.

The more childlike I am before God, the more he enriches my soul.

Through my life, God wants to increase his glory in an original way. God's glory always implies, at the same time, my happiness. If, therefore, I glorify God through my life in accordance with his will, I am as happy as he wants me to be.