LITTLES

                                                                     

       New and perfect skin, soft and delicate.  Tiny toes and fingers .   Little noses and rosy cheeks.  The miniature ears that look like petals on a flower.  And the soft, minky, scarce hair that beckons you to stroke and calm.  Eyes that do not focus yet, but make you long for their fixed stare.  All this tiny joy fits in your forearm and under your chin.  The tiny life evokes a fierce protective warrior in all who come near, and whispers "careful, gentle"  while you hold.  Slight cries melt even the hardest hearts.   Vulnerable, complex body inspires deep thoughts of life origins and creative power.  And somehow the tininess makes you want to give everything to them.  Their utter dependence stirs love and steadfast spirits.  Who does not wait to  see a strong  father tenderly coddle the weakest and tiniest among us?  And somehow the contrast of his strength and her vulnerable size melt our hearts.  It is why we take pictures of each minuscule feature and  stare too long at the marvel of the new life before us.  We must seem so slight and vulnerable to God.  And He too must feel the protective warrior.  His strong father affection for us spurred Him to give himself for us.  We long to see this vulnerable small soul grow to independent pillar and coos of wonder turn to declarations of faith.  The tiny fist that does not go yet where little soft bundle wills it to go, we pray will be raised in confidence of Father's love. Our tiny package is born dependent and must learn independence but we are born independent in spirit and must learn dependence.  For this He yearns as He holds us in his large hands and lifts us to his cheek, our tiny soul, evoking love.  This baby a picture of something greater and deeper.

I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.  Hosea 11:4

2016