The Beauty of a Baby

"A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world."    John 16:21


         Aren't children just the best?   I don't have any so I am looking at it from the outside...  But still... I have been around a few....  I am always amazed at how perfect they are....   I was admiring a photo that a friend sent me of her newest grandson and I thought "how wonderful is that?"   It really is pretty amazing when you think about it.... As imperfect as we are, when kids are born they are just so perfect.... little hands, little feet, little fingernails... everything is just right.... they are like "little people".     But I am reminded that they, like us are born in the image of God.    Not to say that God looks like us... but they are awesome to view.   Amazingly beautiful.   You just stop what you are doing to behold them in all of their glory.... and they don't even do anything.....  but yet you are drawn to them.... 
         I remember when my nephew was born...  it was a little over 10 years ago.   (He is 10 now in case you missed it!).    But when he was about a week old my sister and brother in law brought him to visit Grandma in Pittsburgh... while they were here we took a trip to Kennywood.   I remember that day so well because it was the first day that I didn't ride anything.   Well no I did ride the train once.   I spent the entire day just watching my new nephew sleep.   I just couldn't get enough of him.... I think that I probably knew that he would be much more fun when he got a little older and could do the cute stuff, but at that moment I just wanted to sit with him and behold his beauty.   I know, I'm a little warped, but I really enjoyed that day... oh and the ride I went on, the train ride... it was his first ever Kennywood ride.    
        Many of my friends have children and grandchildren in different stages of growing up, and they are all special.   They do have their moments.   Challenging moments at times.  But they are all a blessing, not only to their parents, but to all of us who have been blessed with the wonderful opportunity to be a part of their lives.
        When I think about how I feel about babies... It reminds me that our love for God should be like that.   We should enjoy just sitting there alone with God, to share all of His goodness and pure beauty.   That God could love us the way that we love that small child who finds his or her way into our lives, is just so totally amazingly great.   We should want to be with God more than we want to do the fun stuff....  Ask yourself if you could sit in a place full of distractions such as Kennywood and yet keep your eyes turned to God.   That is the kind of faith and devotion that I long for.   To be able to find joy in just being with my God. And to need nothing more than that.... How about you?
       Dear Lord,  thanks for bringing such joy into our lives.  And for letting those of us who chose careers over family to enjoy the children in our lives too.   But help us to love You and to look to You with the same love and devotion that we have for the little ones.   And help us to keep in mind that we are all made in Your image.   And that You look at us, and love us and protect us the same way we look at the little ones.... for we are Your "little ones".