The extraordinary tale which is the Salesian Family has its origin in a dream with the gospel flavour of Mark 9, 36-37: «Jesus took a little child, set him in front of them put his arms round him and said to them: “Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me welcomes the Father who sent me.”».

The young are not only those “for whom we work”, but an essential active force for the Salesian Family. Salesian history shows that working for poor and abandoned youth as the priority attracts God's blessing, is the source of charismatic and religious fruitfulness, of vocational fruitfulness, of the regeneration of the fraternal spirit in communities and is the secret behind the freshness and the success of the works.

Don Bosco was challenged by God through the young: those shut up in the prisons of Turin, those he met on the streets, in the squares and in the fields on the outskirts of the city, those who came knocking at his door looking for food and shelter, those he met in the city schools where he was called to exercise his ministry.

«Jesus called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said: “I tell you solemnly unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”» (Matthew 18, 2-3). This may be a difficult expression to accept literally, especially by someone who on a daily basis is exasperated at having to live with little potential tyrants. Do children really have something to teach us?

Don Bosco learned from the young: certainly some of the features of the preventive system were the results of his familiarity with their world, of his sharing their lives, their feelings, their aspirations; certain significant features of Don Bosco's youth spirituality came from his personal knowledge of what makes youngsters tick, and his discovery of the heights which they can reach; certain characteristics of the charism of the Salesian spirit come precisely from their being in tune with the world of youth..

What the children teach us

The job of being an educator can be either a life sentence to slavery and constant stress or an enjoyable voyage of discovery leading to personal enrichment and transformation. One of the things that makes the difference is the willingness to learn. Usually educators are thinking about what they can teach their charges. Now and then perhaps they should ask themselves what they can learn from them.

The job of being an educator does not consist in an exhausting deluge of activities and things to be done, it is a spiritual journey: a succession of experiences which, little by little, reveal the profound significance of life and of the individual. And on this journey our guides are often the grubby little paws which have just left their indelible mark on the recent very expensive re-decorations of the Oratory.

And this is because it is they who are closest to the springs of life.

Being an educator is a school at which one learns more than one manages to teach: naturally, provided that one wants to. One soon discovers that watching youngsters is better than watching the television or looking up Google. It is much more instructive.

Here are some of the things that youngsters can teach us.

Development never stops. Youngsters “force” their educators to get to know themselves inside out: they have an extraordinary talent for undermining the established order and getting to the “heart of things.” You can tell lies to adults with some hope of success: it is impossible to lie to a child. Children recognise emotions with an intensity and sensitivity far greater than ours and show them with total spontaneity.

This increases considerably in their educators a sense of responsibility, and the need for an ever greater capacity for self-control. It also greatly stimulates the mind. Living everyday with youngsters brings us face to face with choices, challenges, problems and difficulties. At every moment of the day the educator has to learn to respond promptly, generously, inventively.

Paying attention. “Look!” Children want their teachers to be present. It is not simply a matter of “being there”: they want total undivided attention, without criticism or particular expectations: a presence that is heart-warming, which makes them feel important, makes them feel valued. Being present means being available: I am here, for you; with simple attention which does not intrude nor control but is just clearly there. We are close to them all, we don’t make any distinctions by being more attentive to those we find more amenable.

Respect and patience. In real life children are never similar to what they were dreamed to be or expected to be. They rebel against those expectations which prevent them from growing up according to their own individuality. They all have their own pace, their own plans, their personal inclinations. Don Bosco used to say: «I leave the boys entirely free to do whatever they like to do... Since people are happy doing only what they know they can do, I follow this principle so that all my pupils are not only working with industriousness, but they are working with love.» (MB, XVII, 64)

He used to tell his helpers: «Allow the pupils to express their ideas freely.» He insisted: «Listen to them. Let them say as much as they want.» And he was the first to lead by example: «Despite his many grave occupations, he was always ready to receive with fatherly affection those boys who sought a private talk with him. Moreover, he wanted them to be on very familiar terms with him, and he never complained of an occasional indiscretion...He left all free to ask questions, to complain, and to defend or excuse themselves ..... He received them with the same respect he showed distinguished visitors, asking them to sit on the sofa while he sat at his desk and listened very attentively as if what they told him was most important. At times he would stand and pace the room with them. When the interview was over, he would show them to the door, open it for them, and send them off, saying: “We shall always be friends, right?”» (BM, VI, 438-439).

Happiness and gratitude for life. Young people are the most important investment as far as fulfilment and personal happiness are concerned. They are sometimes quite hard work, but also a blessing. Life with the young can be exhausting, but what deep joy young people who grow up trusting with such total confidence can give!