The child in us

Certain people, places, things or events remind us of our youth, bringing back so many memories of our past.

Remember those Saturday afternoons when we used to attend Catechism classes? We would gather around the church to listen to Bible stories, praying â€I Believe in God”, “Our Father”, “Hail Mary”, “Glory Be”, reciting the rosary, etc. We were taught how to be good children of God, to obey our parents and elders, to follow the Ten Commandments, to be God-fearing and prayerful. With a child-like faith, we grew up believing in the teachings of the church, of God’s unconditional love, with Jesus as the ever merciful and forgiving God.

A happy life it was. There was peace and harmony. Our needs were simpler then. Happiness to us meant blowing the candles on our birthday cake with matching balloons and ice cream, opening beribboned gifts, singing â€April Love” or â€Tender Is The Night”, playing tago-tago or patintero, doing the Elephant Walk or Limbo Rock, dancing the Twist or Jerk, during jam sessions, going to the movies, swimming, biking, etc. Oh that was all of yesterday. Forty or fifty something years ago.

All the things taught to us were carried on as we journeyed through life, facing it stage by stage until we reached the Age of Reason and Rebellion. The valuable lessons were stored within us all these years. They’re carved so deep in our hearts and minds that whenever we go wrong, we are simply reminded of the things we learned from our Catechism classes.

It’s been decades ago. We have traveled life’s many journeys, But up until today we still hold dear the things which were taught to us. Sometimes we tend to forget the teachings of our youth. We slide back and falter. We pause and ponder and ask ourselves â€Are these the things taught to us when we were kids?” Then we reflect on life’s lessons. We go to confession. We receive communion. We start anew, feeling happy and refreshed. The prodigal son is back. A time to celebrate.

Indeed, we need God in our life no matter how old we have grown, or how much fame and fortune we have acquired. There is no better way than to live life according to God’s teachings, reliving the lessons of the past. Although for now we are no longer the young boy in short pants with runny nose who used to play around the neighborhood or the little girl squatting on the floor while playing jackstone, but we simply remain the God-fearing person. After all, we are the children of the same God we worshipped and adored yesterday when we were kids.

As we celebrate the Feast of Santo Niño, let us remind ourselves to have that child-like faith in One God who remains the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Let the child in us live forever. In the eyes of God.