It is to Recognize our Nothingness
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Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux: Oct. 1
When asked what she meant by “remaining a little child before God,” Therese responded:
It is to recognize our nothingness, to expect everything from God as a little child expects everything from its father; it is to be disquieted about nothing, and not to be set on gaining our living. Even among the poor, they give the child what is neccessary, but as soon as he grows up, his father no longer wants to feed him and says: ‘Work now, you can take care of yourself.’
It was so as not to hear this that I never wanted to grow up, feeling that I was incapable of making my living, the eternal life of heaven. I’ve always remained little, therefore, having no other occupation but to gather flowers, the flowers of love and sacrifice, and of offering them to God in order to please Him.
To be little is not attributing to oneself the virtues that one practices, believing oneself capable of anything, but to recognize that God places this treasure in the hands of His little child to be used when necessary; but it remains always God’s treasure. Finally, it is not to become discouraged over one’s faults, for children fall often, but they are too little to hurt themselves very much.” (St. Therese of Lisieux, Her Last Conversations, pp. 138-139)
Previous posts:
Unless you Become like Little Children
Darkness Within Faith