It’s Okay to Be a Baby [Choosing Joy]

It’s hard being one.  My sweet toddler faces new challenges every day.  She is struggling to walk on chubby, wobbly legs.  She is struggling to chew with only 4 teeth.  She is struggling to see the world while being not even 2 ½ feet tall.  It is no wonder why she can be cranky sometimes.  Her life is full of frustrations.  But we can learn a lot by watching how she handles it.

When she wakes up at 6:00AM, she always has a huge grin to greet the day.  She almost never wakes up sad.  She is excited to see us and ready for adventure.

When her belly is full, she stops eating and drops the remainder on the floor.  She only eats what is delicious, but she doesn’t overeat.  If her leftovers are not swept up quickly, she has easy access to a snack later.

When someone hurts her feelings she immediately lets them know.  She doesn’t stuff down her emotions, and she never holds a grudge.  She is quick to forgive.

When she falls down, she might give a little fuss, but most of the time she just bounces right back up and carries on to her goal.

When she is in pain she doesn’t hide and push others away.  She clings to the people that she knows she can trust.

When she is sleepy, she is especially cuddly.  She understands that gentle touch and peaceful lullabies are good for the soul.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.  And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:1-4

Sometimes babies are accused of being selfish and self-centered, and I think we see them that way because of our own selfishness.  What babies truly are, is an example of devotion.  They are an example we should follow as we grow closer to God.  We should be greeting the Lord each morning with praise.  We should be enjoying God’s gifts but not worshiping them.  We should be forgiving others.  We should be persevering.  We should be clinging to the Lord in our dark times.  And we should be prioritizing time to be quiet and let our spirits rest in Him.  Praise God for these little teachers in our lives!  May we be more like them every day!