Yesterday I visited a newborn. Yes, only 6 days old. Perfect in every way. I was reminded of a paper I wrote in divinity school for a Christian education class. The essence was that our task for the first nine or so months of a child’s life is to smile God’s love on him/her. Until we have to say no, until the child starts exerting herself, until he starts finding dangerous objects to put in his mouth, there is no need for reprimand.
Isn’t this wonderful? Of course there is the changing, the feeding, the rocking, the keeping the child safe--all the parental/care-giver jobs. But for many of us, our job is just to smile. It’s natural to smile at the babies I know, such as the little guy I visited yesterday, but what about the babies I meet on my walk, or pass in the super market? I don’t know them or their parents, but I do know God. I know that God is loving and that we are made in God’s imagine. I know that I can smile love at a baby and before I know it, she will smile love back.
Isn’t this wonderful? Of course there is the changing, the feeding, the rocking, the keeping the child safe--all the parental/care-giver jobs. But for many of us, our job is just to smile. It’s natural to smile at the babies I know, such as the little guy I visited yesterday, but what about the babies I meet on my walk, or pass in the super market? I don’t know them or their parents, but I do know God. I know that God is loving and that we are made in God’s imagine. I know that I can smile love at a baby and before I know it, she will smile love back.
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