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Children Belong to Themselves...and to God
"Parents, teachers,educators, ministers and priests must all remember that our responsibility is not to form, change or transform young people, but to be good shepherds. Our role is not to manipulate people or to make people in our own image. We are gardeners. We put water on the seed and remember that the seed has it's own life... Our responsibility is to help people find their inner freedom. People belong to themselves before they belong to their parents. They belong to God."
Jean Vanier, founder of L'Arche, in "Jean Vanier, Images of Love, Words of Hope", Lancelot Press, Hansport Nova Scotia, 1991, p57
posted by Holly at 8:43 PM
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Vanier goes on to say that children are not looking for experiences of hierarchy and authoritarianism, where parents are the reigning victors and children oppressed beneath the weight of rules and regulations.
He explains that children are looking for an authentic relationship in love with God. For a real experience of community and an acceptance of their vulnerability.
And here ladies is where we come in. Children experience the love and unconditional acceptance of God THROUGH our love for them. It is not our teaching, nor our rules, nor our schedules which reveals God.
It is our love, our touch, our smile, our presence and our tenderness - which says to the child "You are good and loveable and worth my love."
And in order for us to be these channels of God, we need to become holy - close to God, authentic persons in our own right, in deep relationship with God. We cannot pass along what we do not have.
Jean Vanier wants us to remember this well, and so reminds us that children are not our possessions, to do with and to mold as we please - but rather, gifts we are to tend, and watch grow and develop into their own unique person. And our job is to shepherd - protect, guide, inspire, encourage, and love - along the way.
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