a gift of the child

i am watching a korean tv series called “the good supper.” in these first episodes, one of the lead actors (kim si ha) is an eight year old girl who is just terrific. i see her as a “korean shirley temple.” so cute and innocent that you want her to be safe, protected and happy. this little girl brings out wonderful emotion in her facial expressions and it is just heart warming for me. in he smile, her whole face lights up– pure joy!

i am reminded of the saying: the child is the father of the man. (would it translate for women– the child is the mother of the woman?)

here is william wordsworth’s entire poem:

My Heart Leaps Up

My heart leaps up when I behold 
   A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began; 
So is it now I am a man; 
So be it when I shall grow old, 
   Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.

in noah’s story in genesis, God promises not to destroy the earth. God gives us a rainbow as a sign of this covenant. this promise is for life and to not fear destruction by God. noah’s covenant gives us firm ground on which to stand.

wordsworth implies a desired renewal of the adult life through the child. our childhood, its pure joy through simple things– like a rainbow, other children who remind us of the good.

what makes our hearts leap up?

jesus taught us that the child was a key to the kingdom:

Then children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After he placed his hands on them, he went away. Mt 19: 13-15

jesus also taught us that his very presence is with the child; to be great is to accept the child. in accepting the child, we accept jesus’ presence:

An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” Luke 9: 46-48

does the presence of jesus in the child make our hearts leap up? is the child within me making me the person God desires? the person i want to be?