A Child’s Heart

A Child’s Heart

Let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy. Psalm 68:3

Renee leaned forward to better hear the psychology professor at the front of the lecture hall.

“Children learn early what the world thinks about them,” he was saying, “and in turn, the world’s opinion shapes their opinion about themselves. Believe me, there is no greater joy as a psychology clinician than to have a child smile as you ask her to say, ‘I am a wonderful person.’ Sadly, many children can’t say that, and they grow into adults who feel as if they have no worth whatsoever.”

Renee sat stunned, thinking, How can anyone say, “I am a wonderful person,” especially a child?

The professor glanced at his watch and then assigned chapter 6 for Monday’s class before striding out. Renee slowly gathered her notes, wishing he had offered a solution, some “magic wand” counseling formula that would allow children—and her—to say, “I am a worthwhile person.”

As she walked to the library, she pondered the childhood events that had shaped her opinion of herself. She had grown up knowing she was an “accident” who had altered her mother’s education plans. Once, her mother had even snapped, “It’s a good thing abortion wasn’t readily available back then!” How terrible to know your own mother would have killed you before birth if she’d had the chance. Oh, Renee knew about little kids not being able to say, “I am a wonderful person”! —SANDRA

Lord, even as an adult I’m prone to replay those old childhood mental tapes that tell me I’ll never measure up to someone’s expectations. Help me to refuse to listen to those old put-downs. Instead, let me listen to and follow only your strengthening and encouraging voice.

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.

—C. S. LEWIS (1898–1963), IRISH WRITER AND LITERARY SCHOLAR