Jesus warned those who would lead the little ones astray,
but he blessed those who care for them.
One of the most touching things about children
is their openness.
But this same openness
leaves them extremely vulnerable.
They may not say much but they feel everything.
They are like crocuses
which appear in the open in February –
frail, delicate, beautiful creatures –
innocents abroad in an unpredictable climate.
If they are embraced by the sun,
they will bloom to their full potential.
But if they are assailed by hail,
they will die a premature death.
Love is to a child what sunshine is to a flower.