The Healing Power Of Children

by Rick Saldan

Children remain 'bundles of joy' all over the world. We love their innocence, and their need is our command. But have you every been exposed to their healing powers? You might be thinking that I am out of their minds and possibly am over-influenced by films like Matilda where the little girl had heavenly powers to punish the evil and reward the good. I could also never have believed the therapeutic effect which company of children can give till I experienced a couple of events in my life. A good lady friend of mine, a school teacher by profession had lost her beloved husband in a tragic car accident. She had been enjoying an exquisitely happy married life only for two and a half years when tragedy struck.

My friend was inconsolable. She stopped attending her school job, refused to communicate with anyone and cried incessantly. We as friends tried our best to bring her out of the dark and depressive den she called her home but she refused stubbornly till her school principal, a warm-hearted pastor with a kind demeanor visited her one day. He urged her to get back to school and commented that the company of children would bring her incomparable peace of mind as nothing else could. My friend, with great reluctance started attending school again, after nearly three or four months. I met her after a month and this is the time I was completely dumbstruck. Where was that depressed soul who I met last time? Here was my friend, back to her old self – bubbly, humorous and full of zest and life. She was slowly getting her bearings though she definitely looked run down. When I asked her about the secret of returning to where she belonged – she squarely put the credit on to the children in the school with whom she spent a better part of the day.

This incident left an indelible impression in my mind and I started to probe deeper into the theory of healing powers of children. My friend gave me many inputs to my study and she confirmed that the more time you spend with people who are innocent, who give you unconditional love, who are without any complications and whose mind is free and uninhibited – you can derive tremendous joy and peace of mind especially during troubled times.

When I started to preach this finding to my other friends, one of them decided to check it out himself. He was going through very insecure and troubled times in his job, while his wife ran a successful day-care center for toddlers. He decided to spend his morning hours before work with these tiny tots who were dropped off at his home by their parents. While the children ran about in the garden, as some one painted, some one used the swing, some one dirtied himself in the sand pit – it became completely absorbing to my friend, who for those couple of hours totally forgot about his woes. He went to work completely refreshed ready to face the challenges or the possible misfortunes, for the day, to the amazement of his colleagues.

Thus, instead of getting bogged down by whatever destiny rolls out in our lives, we can enjoy children as empaths to lift us up out of the mental mess that we tend to fall into. Not only are they innocent themselves, they even ask you innocent questions which are a delight to deal with. Mixing with such uncomplicated and brave souls even for a few hours in a day, could make a big impact in your mind and can provide you some mental relaxation as no therapy or medications ever can. Surprise them, teach them, play with them, sing and dance with them and it's a another world, believe me.