"It is impossible for me to grow up, and so I must bear with myself such as I am with all my imperfections. But I wanted to seek out a means of going to heaven by a little way, a way that is very straight, very short, and totally new. We are living now in an age of inventions, and we no longer have to take the trouble of climbing stairs, for an elevator has replaced these very successfully. I wanted to find an elevator which would raise me to Jesus, for I am too small to climb the rough stairway of perfection.
"I searched, then, in the Scriptures for some sign of this elevator, the object of my desires, and I read these words coming from the mouth of Eternal Wisdom: 'Whoever is a LITTLE one, let him come to Me.'
"And so I succeeded. I felt I had found what I was looking for... the elevator which must raise me to heaven is Your arms, O Jesus! And for this I had no need to grow up, but rather I had to remain little and become this more and more.
"O my God, You surpassed all my expectations."
St. Therese of Lisieux
Hamilton Painting; Falling Apple Blossoms, detail; US public domain due to age. Digitally altered.