Today I got to hold some dear friends’ brand new little baby girl. She is the sweetest part of life, I think; she is small and so very important, innocent and unashamed of her needs.
I think I can learn from her.
I think that it is a tricky thing, trying to be strong and yet realizing that it’s okay to need something or someone. I think the amount of trust that she has in her parents to take care of her is a good reminder. You don’t have to be tiny to trust like that, right? You can be grown up–or at least much bigger–and realize that there’s a plan for you. That life has not lost its whimsy and that there just isn’t time to be ashamed of your story anyway; not when it’s still unfolding like the best kind of epiphany that brightens you up on the inside until it works itself all the way out into the way you carry yourself. Like you’re somebody.
Not better than anyone, but man, somebody.
And I think holding a brand new little person is good for the soul. It’s nearly impossible to go to dark places with a bundle like that in your arms. It’s hard not to feel hope when bam! there’s a miracle right here and look! she’s wiggling her tiny toes and her eye lashes are just perfect.
And she’s somebody.
And we all started there, a miracle.
And we’re all going somewhere, so might as well make it a good place and might as well not rush the journey along the way and might as well think about the moon and his beautiful, sad face; might as well think about the taste of salt on your tongue, how it changes most things and makes them better; might as well think about how life is full of somebodies who are, for the most part, lovely and who are, for all parts, full of worth and potential at least, and yes, it’s good to be among them.
And yes, holding a baby is so good for the soul.
And I wonder if parents of tiny babies get a little glimpse of something that tips them off to the secret of how we are all some pretty special somebodies and how love is never, not even a little bit, wasted.
Interestingly enough, my little guy JUST turned ten years old yesterday. The great part about kids is the fact that they usually know more than we do even if they’re just a baby. They have a simple human principle that we sometimes lose over time due to one thing or another. People wonder about the fountain of youth? Well.. I’m not so sure about that.. but being around the little folks we call children can REALLY do the body and soul an AWFUL lot of good.
awww, happy birthday to your little guy!! How special!! And yes, being around special little buddies is so good a human:)
I’m always re-amazed every time I hold a newborn. They radiant such a palpable energy of innocence, purity. It feels so centering, so peaceful. Someone has recently written a book on the moral inclinations of very young children-like a few months old even. He found that tiny humans instinctively recognize “good” (that which does no harm) and are aversive to “evil” (that which threatens or harms). I wonder if the old Calvinists got it wrong that humankind is born innately evil. My guess is that proclivity soon develops but that the youngest human souls have a purity about them that you feel when you hold them.
huh, pop–that’s really interesting about tiny babies recognizing a difference between good and evil. And also–what a thought–that maybe we weren’t all born innately evil. Certainly, there is NOTHING evil about a little newborn, so I could see that.
so beautiful and true…there is nothing like holding a newborn..the innocence and purity is just such a beautiful reminder of God and His love..beautiful post!!!
thanks, sare–and yes. I don’t know that you get to hold a miracle so tangibly in any other situation than holding a newborn baby.
I love this. Babies have a way of putting the shine back on the things we often take for granted, that have become dull through wear and tear, through pain and difficulty…just through age.
“putting a shine back on the things we often take for granted,” indeed. Nice way of putting the way newborn babies give us a new perspective again.
Just a beautiful post, full of imagery! I loved that this baby filled your soul!!!!!
thanks, JR:)
and ps I miss you…!