Become Like Children

Beads of Joy 10-02-10

Become Like Children
©2010 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Hello Everyone,

Why must we become like children? You know it's been said to me that I am "immature", "you never grow up". "act like an adult". I love it, I really do. Does that make me immature when I say I really love it? Nah nah, na nah nah, I don't care; I never act like a kid, like do I? LOL. I got to tell you, I really enjoy today's gospel reading a lot. Today we are reflecting on Matthew 18:1-5,10 (The Greatest in The Kingdom). Children. What is so important that we must be like verse 3 and 4 say, "and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Let's just think of the average mindset of a child: belief and trust in their parents, unconcerned about the far off future, no real fear, no judgment towards others, no pride, always sharing, mostly always looking to have fun and laughs. What a bunch of blessed aspects of a child. We need to be just like that. Believe me I try my best to be as childish as possibly can. LOL. If you really don't believe me, ask my wife, even my kids will vouch that is true.

Check this out:
"Once born into childlike faith, brimming with belief, typical people begin to lose their faith. Society mocks them. Their friends smirk. They come to change the world, but over time the world changes them. Soon they forget who they were; they forget the faith they once had. Then one day someone tells them the truth, but they don’t want to go back, because they’re comfortable in their new skin. Being a stranger in this world is never easy." Ted Dekker

Well said Mr. Dekker, sounds like you were talking about me.

“Youth has no age.”~Pablo Picasso

Here is a list of ways to be more child-like I found written by:


"33 Ways to Be Childlike Today" by Lori Deschene

LEARN

1. Read a book you loved as a kid. by Dr. Seuss.

2. Figure out how something works, even if it’s irrelevant to your life, just because it’s interesting. Go ahead—Google “How Fish Breathe” or something you don’t fully understand.

3. Fill out your own permission slip to go to the aquarium, a museum, or a nearby tourist attraction. If something looks interesting, take a break and go!

PLAY

4. Do something fun. Make a Lego village, pull out the coloring book, or jump rope.

5. Explore. Walk around your block without any intention. Just see what’s going on, maybe even using a big fallen branch as a walking stick.

6. Run or skip if you feel like it. Flail your arms, like Phoebe in my favorite episode of Friends.

7. Be silly. Look for funny things in your day–they’re always there–and let yourself laugh about them.

8. Try a new look–think the kid from Adam Sandler’s Big Daddy, when he dressed himself, but a little less ridiculous.

SHARE

9. Remember something awesome and call a friend to share it. (i.e.: ‘Member the time we made pizza for breakfast? That was awesome, huh?)

10. Tell someone they’re your hero. If you admire what they do, look right in their eyes and say, “I think you’re pretty awesome.”

11. Be a know it all. Tell someone about something you learned today and get excited about sharing it.

12. Tell it like it is. Don’t be a liar, liar, pants on fire. As Dr. Seuss said, “Say what you mean and mean what you say because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”

13. Be vulnerable. Tell someone how you feel, or what you really want to be when you grow up, without making them pinky swear to take it to the grave.

14. Share a meal with people around a table, even if it isn’t a special occasion, like that Normal Rockwell painting families often recreate.

CONNECT

15. Tell your mom and dad you love them. Call them right now and say it for no reason other than it being true.

16. Make a spontaneous play date. Invite people over right now, for no reason but to have fun, even if you have plans scheduled for the weekend with them.

17. Eat lunch on a rock with a friend. You don’t need a restaurant or a cafeteria. Channel the good old days from camp when a little sand in your PB & J meant a lunchtime adventure.

18. Ask for help if you need it. Just like you used to pull your desk next to someone else’s to read along, walk up to someone you trust, and let them be there for you.

19. Tap into your innocence—meaning give someone the benefit of the doubt, as if you don’t know yet to be cynical.

CREATE

20. Make a card by hand to give to someone you care about. As Pablo Picasso said, “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

21. Get messy when you’re cooking. Not tomato-sauce-on-the-ceiling-fan messy. The point is: let loose and enjoy yourself instead of making cooking a chore.

22. Start a piggy bank. Or a coin jar. You don’t need to save big to save; and you never know what little adventures you can have with just a little extra cash.

23. Try a hands-on project

24. Assume you’d be really good at something–piano, rock climbing, organizing a club–and then find out, instead of assuming the opposite.

BE

25. Sit Indian style in your chair if you’re able. Crossed-legged sitting is actually really good for your posture—an added bonus!

26. Surround yourself with your favorite color. If orange makes you smile, plaster orange pictures all over your cubicle.

27. Cry if you need to. If the day gets difficult, don’t try to be a hero. When you let yourself feel it, you’re better able to let it go.

28. Relax and do nothing. Don’t try to fill that empty pocket of time. You’ve been productive enough. Kick back, cut loose, and let yourself waste a little time. As John Lennon said, “Time you enjoyed wasting was not wasted.”

IMAGINE

29. Forget what was tough about yesterday. Why dwell on that fight with your sister when you could be having fun today?

30. Change your mind easily. According to Alison Gopnik, a professor of psychology at the University of California at Berkeley, kids’ brains are extremely flexible, “so they can change what they think based on new evidence very quickly and easily.”

31. Visualize a tomorrow with endless possibilities. Not sure you can be the person you want to be?

32. Don’t take no for an answer. If there’s something you want to do, be persistent. You can make it happen!

33. Ignore something someone says if it limits you, your potential or your possibilities.

So what has this blog helped us with today? Being an immature child? No, this blog is helping to direct us to really put our heart and mind in the mindset of a child. I could have done research and came up with a similar list, but Lori did such a wonderful job that sharing what she did,was much better. I really enjoyed reading that list. Some stuff we may not use, but so many of these ideas are really spectacular. Besides I don't want to be the only "kid" in our group of old people. LOL. Who wants to go the park and play? Or go for a bike ride? Or build a sand castle? I will never ever ever grow up. You have my word.

"Jesus, I trust in You."


Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO

Today we pray the Joyful Mysteries
1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Birth of Jesus
4. The Presentation in The Temple
5. Finding of Jesus in the Temple