From the Mouths of Babes

My wife and I welcomed a wonderful addition to our family in the summer of 2014. In fact, two—we had twins! A double miracle. Two darling baby girls. We are now the proud parents of three miracle wonders: Theresa, Katarina, and our four-year-old son, JJ. There is no greater joy than the miracle of life. Looking at our girls now we can’t help but gloat a bit. What perfection… every hair, every digit, every crinkle in their skin. We are beginning to see them smile. If you hold their gaze long enough, you’ll even get a wink.

And our little girls are learning. They are communicating with cries, facial expressions, and now developing their verbal skills. My first day home from a new position at work, Theresa welcomed me with the sweetest two syllable phrase a father could hear, “Dada.” The simplicity. The wonder. The perfection. A single consonant and vowel repeated once to make the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. All of my striving and effort affirmed and congratulated with the simple, two syllable word of our dear six-month baby girl.  

Our God is a master craftsman. We see His handiwork as the infant life takes shape. Every first… the first time they smile, the first laugh, the first time they roll over, and their first word, recalls the miracle of life, showcasing the handiwork of God as His creative power and ingenuity breaks forth again and again.

There is beauty in the simplicity of a baby’s first word. There is also wonderment in all that goes on physiologically to produce speech. Recent studies of human speech describe a complex process involving several body systems working in tandem. Speech begins in the brain when a desired concept is linked with a particular word to be expressed. Conceptualization activates pulmonary pressure in the lungs, which in turn generates sound in the larynx. The process is completed as sound traveling through the throat, oral, and nasal cavities is modified into different vowels and consonants, and fine-tuned by the tongue and lips.

Our God masterfully weaves simplicity with complexity to achieve the beauty and wonder we see all around us in creation. All creation declares the praises of God. There is no exception. The strong and week, the big and small, the old and the young, all bear witness to the glory of God:

You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength. (Psalm 8:2, NLT)

Looking today at our little ones, I know the same God who accomplishes such glorious works has His eyes on our lives today; each of us, considering how he might shine on you in some unexpected, wondrous way. We know he is able and delights to reveal His perfections:

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (James 1:17, NASB)

God freely gives of His goodness and perfection. When the perfection of God breaks forth, you will experience the Lord’s presence, power, and goodness in your life. You will see him work wonders. The God of life, of all creation, the God who made you and renews you each day through His precious Son, is waiting to do something extraordinary in your life today.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)

Copyright © 2015 Paul J. Palma. Used by permission.