A much repeated sentence we hear at our Theology of the Body retreats and courses is "I wish I heard this when I was younger!" or "I wish my parents were able to give me such a positive and beautiful message about the gift of sexuality!" Well, we can't change the past but by His grace we can certainly affect the present, and hopefully change the future. There are few things more important than talking in a positive way about the beauty and dignity of the body and what it means as a sign of love in the world. Just look at all of the dysfunction and dysphoria of our culture to see what happens if we don't speak about it!
As a quick refresher, the theology of the body is a biblical reflection, as well as an unpacking of human experience and its contribution to the truth of who we are, by the late and great St. John Paul II. The TOB ponders and practices the beautiful truth that our bodies are created good and that together as man and woman, each unique and complementary, we reveal a great mystery of love and communion in the world.
The Love Cradle of the Family
We are meant to learn about this mystery of love in the midst of the "cradle of life and love" that is the family, in the words of St. John Paul II. The family is “the primary place of ‘humanization' for the person and society.” (Christifideles Laici, 40)
A fundamental "lesson" in this primary school of the family is on the gift of our bodies and how they relate to one another. To open up this lesson for our "littles", we ought to look at how God brings about life and goodness and beauty in nature (creation). It's a wonderful (and true) analogy to connect to the way our bodies were made. Pope Benedict XVI said "A first discovery of God is through the contemplation of creation."
The Love Cradle of the Family
We are meant to learn about this mystery of love in the midst of the "cradle of life and love" that is the family, in the words of St. John Paul II. The family is “the primary place of ‘humanization' for the person and society.” (Christifideles Laici, 40)
A fundamental "lesson" in this primary school of the family is on the gift of our bodies and how they relate to one another. To open up this lesson for our "littles", we ought to look at how God brings about life and goodness and beauty in nature (creation). It's a wonderful (and true) analogy to connect to the way our bodies were made. Pope Benedict XVI said "A first discovery of God is through the contemplation of creation."
Receive the Gift
God designed the world so that seeds fall down from the trees and flowers above to make new trees and flowers rise up from below. The seeds land on the rich earth. The soil receives the "gift" of the seed, and the sun and rain make it grow, and the growing is beautiful. This language of GIFT is essential. In creation, God makes everything "dance" together, giving and receiving themselves as gifts. When the seeds and soil dance together, when they work together, and "open" to the sun and the rain, then life comes from it. And God said, "Behold, it is good." We must emphasize this inherent goodness in creation. That's our backstory. That's the pure spring from which the gift of life and our bodies flows, no matter how muddied we might make the waters become downstream by our sin!
The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Human beings are God's most beautiful gifts given to all of creation. When they grow older (like a tree or flower) God gives men seeds to offer and women a kind of special soil in which to receive them. And so women become in their very bodies, a beautiful garden of life! When you come to describing a girl's approaching period, you can already see how the analogy/concept of this garden of life (the Hebrew expression for life is connected to the word for "blood"), could be used to articulate her own monthly menstruation. The "soil" is being prepared to receive the seed.
This garden is her own special place, and God has given it to her as a gift to bring new life into the world. The children to come are like flowers, and the man and woman take care of this "family garden" with the help of the Lord Who watches over all and sends His sun and rain to keep the garden beautiful and growing. This garden is a holy place, a sanctuary that the man and woman, when they are old enough and have made their promises to God and each other, get the grace to share and care for.
God designed the world so that seeds fall down from the trees and flowers above to make new trees and flowers rise up from below. The seeds land on the rich earth. The soil receives the "gift" of the seed, and the sun and rain make it grow, and the growing is beautiful. This language of GIFT is essential. In creation, God makes everything "dance" together, giving and receiving themselves as gifts. When the seeds and soil dance together, when they work together, and "open" to the sun and the rain, then life comes from it. And God said, "Behold, it is good." We must emphasize this inherent goodness in creation. That's our backstory. That's the pure spring from which the gift of life and our bodies flows, no matter how muddied we might make the waters become downstream by our sin!
The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Human beings are God's most beautiful gifts given to all of creation. When they grow older (like a tree or flower) God gives men seeds to offer and women a kind of special soil in which to receive them. And so women become in their very bodies, a beautiful garden of life! When you come to describing a girl's approaching period, you can already see how the analogy/concept of this garden of life (the Hebrew expression for life is connected to the word for "blood"), could be used to articulate her own monthly menstruation. The "soil" is being prepared to receive the seed.
This garden is her own special place, and God has given it to her as a gift to bring new life into the world. The children to come are like flowers, and the man and woman take care of this "family garden" with the help of the Lord Who watches over all and sends His sun and rain to keep the garden beautiful and growing. This garden is a holy place, a sanctuary that the man and woman, when they are old enough and have made their promises to God and each other, get the grace to share and care for.
Here are a few extra resources for touching on the topic of the goodness and beauty of the body, love, and relationships for little ones:
The Princess and the Kiss (for girls)
Looking to bring the message of virtue and purity to a young girl? In this story, a loving
king and queen present their daughter with a gift from God–her first kiss–to keep or to
give away. The wise girl waits for the man who is worthy of her precious gift. Where is
he and how will she ever find him? https://shop.chastityproject.com/books/the-princessand-
the-kiss.html
The Squire and the Scroll (for boys)
Looking to bring the message of virtue and purity to a young boy? This captivating
adventure follows a young squire who travels a long, dangerous road beside his brave knight, on a quest for their king. The action builds until the final face-off with the
monstrous, evil dragon. Only then does the squire learn of the secret beyond the
cave. https://shop.chastityproject.com/books/the-squire-and-the-scroll.html
Beyond the Birds and the Bees by Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak
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