from Confessions, "When I am confessing not what I was but what I am now, the benefit lies in this:  I am making confession not only before you with a secret exaltation and fear and with a secret grief touched by hope, but also in the ears of believing sons of men, sharers in my joy, conjoined with me in mortality, my fellow citizens and pilgrims, some who have gone before, some who follow after, and some who are my companions in this life. 

They are your servants, my brothers, who by your will are your sons and my masters.   You have commanded me to serve them if I wish to live with you and in dependence on you......

For my part, I carry out your command by action and words; but I discharge it under the protection of your wings.  It would be far too perilous responsibility unless under your wings my soul were submissive to you.  My weakness is known to you.

I am a child.

He is one and the same who begat me and watches over me.  You yourself are all my good qualities.  You are the omnipotent one, who are with me even before I am with you."

I am your child and for that I say, "Thank You."