The point in “healing the inner child” is illustrated and affirmed by an ancient psychological/mythological idea that the way to full maturity is to find what you lost as a child and regain it. The recovery of the child revivifies the adult by teaching the adult how to play, trust, and wonder without judgment again, but with the added maturity and knowledge of being an adult who knows how to organize and protect oneself in the world. The inner child finally gets to express him/herself from a place of safety rather than fear and danger.
In this wrap-up episode, I offer a case study that might help put all the pieces together, and a reminder from St. Thérèse to stay “little,” give Jesus your littleness and little sacrifices, and leave the rest to Him.
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LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on Sonja’s method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary.
L | Listen (Receive the Word via audio or video.)
O | Observe (Connect the passage to your life and recent events.)
Has this series taught you anything more than you knew about St. Thérèse and being “little”? Are you more comfortable with younger parts of yourself than before? Are there parts that you still have trouble “welcoming”? What do you want to say to the Holy Spirit about that?
V | Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)
Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.
E | Entrust (Rest in the Word.)
Dearest Jesus, my love, in the words of little Therese, “For me to become great is impossible.” Help me bear with myself and my many imperfections as I seek to follow her means of getting to heaven by a little way–very short and very straight, The Little Way of the Child. Amen +
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What We Discussed | Show Notes
Thérèse of Lisieux sacrifice beads at Vianney beads on Etsy.
Overview:
Minutes 00:00-12:00 – Back to Thérèse and her last year; Sister Marie and the linen room
Minutes 12:01-24:00 – Case study on the late-life illumination of a personality projection
Minutes 24:01-36:00 – Self-sufficiency and Pharisaism block healing
Minutes 36:01-48:00 – Seeing and accepting personality projections (underneath behavior issues) without allowing them to rule; how judgments in our vocations are meant to help us “see” and experience ourselves, God, and others in deeper communion
Transcript
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