The Inner Child

Today the world celebrates International Children's Day. This is a day which touches all of us. Not only our kids. But also us, adults and elderly, as we walk down the memory lane, trying to discover when and how exactly we lost that innocent inner child in us? The child that Jesus Himself wants us to become anew under a threat of losing the right to enter the Father's House in heaven - "Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 18:3).

The Holy Father John Paul II wrote once a Letter to Children. He noted that "It is true that a child represents the joy not only of its parents but also the joy of the Church and the whole of society. But it is also true that in our days, unfortunately, many children in different parts of the world are suffering and being threatened: they are hungry and poor, they are dying from diseases and malnutrition, they are the victims of war, they are abandoned by their parents and condemned to remain without a home, without the warmth of a family of their own, they suffer many forms of violence and arrogance from grown-ups. How can we not care, when we see the suffering of so many children, especially when this suffering is in some way caused by grown-ups?"

 We are all aware, painfully aware, what is going on around us, in the Church and in the society we live in...How many of us betrayed not only that innocent child in us, but also in little ones depending on us, trusting us, pastors, parents, formators, teachers, leaders, neighbors with their pure innocence...

We need to write a new letter to our children, asking them for forgiveness, making reparation for what we have done wrong, healing wounds, restoring confidence and hope with our own conversion and penance, fighting with all forms of injustice, abuse, discrimination, child labor, you name it, making sure that we and the world we live in is becoming a true warm family home for all kids around the world...


How about following an example of the Holy Father or President Barack Obama (who wrote a letter to his girls) or others who did so as well, starting with a simple letter in our own handwriting and addressed to our own children and children we are close to, explaining how we feel about them? How about including these seven key words, long forgotten for so many, and so important for the proper formation of the child, like:

1. Love

2. Appreciation

3. Joy

4. Pride

5. Cherished Memories

6. Hope

7. Faith in the child



These seven magic words can become a cure for seven deadly sins we've committed as a Church and Society which in consequence hurt our children...

Sicilian artist Manfredi Beninati - Palermo 3 (I love his works)

So, grab your crayons, unlock your inner child, innocent and pure, and write the letter to your children - in words, in heart and in your attitude...