2. [part]
[...] Since He has given you the body and your members and life for them and since it is He Who preserves your body, and your members and life, you must thank Him for this and use them in such a way as He would have you [to use them].
3.
But I want to say even more to you. You have been baptized and through Baptism have become the Temple of the Holy Spirit, children of God and members of the Body of Christ, that is His Church. You will know the little saying: “Do you not know that you are the Temple of God and His Dwelling and the Spirit of God dwells in you?” As well as the little saying “Do you not know that your bodies are Christ’s members?” Since then your bodies are a dwelling place of God and members of Jesus, you will understand that you must not treat your bodies and members foolishly but serve them and care for them in the sense and according to the will of the Lord. How this can and must be done is what I want to speak to you about.
When you were still very small and were brought to Holy Baptism, you didn’t know how to use your hands and feet and how you were to experience your body. When you were hungry or thirsty or tired, or when something hurt you, you cried then, because you couldn’t speak or say your concerns. Then your parents and the ones who cared for you had to think: “What does the child need?” They tried this and that until they found what it was you wanted. Our Lord and Savior, the Giver of all Good Things, placed such love for children in the hearts of your parents and caretakers that without wearying they concerned themselves with your needs and when you cried they did not rest until they could find what you needed.
When you learned to sit on a little chair and speak and walk, you could not wash yourself right away and comb or dress yourself or eat by yourself. All of that had to be thought of and taken care of by your dear parents. And I have seen that Children, who have been cared for most carefully, sometimes are naughty and are contrary and have cried. They of course don’t yet understand what is good and necessary for them.
Something
of Bodily Care for Children
Translated by Pastor Roy Ledbetter
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