I like to read a bit of scripture every day. It calms my questioning mind—helps to ground
my doubts and confusions. By chance, I happened to turn to the verses in Mark’s
gospel about Jesus telling his disciples that if they welcomed the little
children, it was the same as welcoming him. The disciples didn’t get it. They
wanted to be the first to sit with Jesus, not with the children. Jesus told
them they would be last. If they wanted to be first they would have to be like
the little children. Mark says Mary Magdelene was the only disciple who
understood Jesus.
Maria Montessori spent
her life being with the little children. She knew they were our hope and
promise of a peaceful world to come. But Maria didn’t just believe in the
little children as Christians believe in Jesus; she was a scientist who
observed, studied all the sciences, and knew that the child creates a new man,
a new culture in collaboration with the loving adults and environment around
him.
I believe it is love that gets destroyed, crucified,
when we fail to respect the child and neglect his need for beauty and love. I’m
speaking not only of the child in our arms, but the child in our self—the child
in our hearts. If we do not love our self, how will we know to love the child?
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