From the Mouth of Infants . . .
Every other day of the week are special days at home. Little Soleil, our two-year-old granddaughter, comes. She gives us much joy.
Like any toddler of this generation her age, Baby Soleil likes watching baby/kiddie shows like Cocomelon, Wiggles, Mother Goose Club, etc., on TV and tablet. Lately, however, she gets quickly tired of them and, in her cute way, lets us know she wants us to change the channel to religious songs we have played for her before, which she listens to until she falls asleep in our arms. Her current favorite is Hillsongs' "Lord I Offer My Life to You" (at the bottom of this page). It is inspiring to look at Soleil intently watching the video, raising both hands as if in worship and imitating the gestures and actions of people in the song.
Watching Soleil in the "praising the Lord" posture reminds me of the Psalm verse "Ex ore infantium et lactentium perfecisti laudem (Out of the mouths of babes and suckling Thou hast perfected praise) (Psalm 8:2). That leads us to think of and praise God, too.
At this time and age when there is so much complicatedness in the thinking and behavior of adults, we can learn from the simplicity, innocence, and loving ways of babies and young children. For one, they can teach adults how to love and be loved just by being themselves, without effort, without pretense. They reflect the purity, beauty, gentleness, truth, and holiness of God Himself.
Parents and grandparents naturally find themselves feeling so much love for their children and grandchildren. Obviously, God, Who is Love Himself ("Deus Caritas Est"), embedded such love in their hearts. Reflecting on this, we can ask: "If we finite human beings have such capacity to love our children and grandchildren, how much must the Infinite Being, God, be loving us, His children?"
We are all children in the eyes of God, our Loving Father, and He wants us to dwell with Him in His home. No wonder Jesus keeps reminding us: "Unless you change and become like little children, you can never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). And again: Let little children come to Me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:14)
We perceive our little Soleil as starting early in life praising and loving God as His precious child. Even now, we see in her correct values. She reminds us of Proverbs 22:6 which admonishes: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." That is our prayer for Soleil and our other grandchildren that we love so very much!
Looking around, we see other doting grandparents giving to and receiving love from their grandchildren. The time will come when in the Father's house, we will all praise and glorify Him in happiness forever! #
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5)
