Pure Joy

I took the day off today to watch Grand-baby Paige. We went shopping at Walmart and she scored a pair of walking shoes (with hopes she will soon walk), 6 pr of socks, and one of those obligatory baby toys with a rocker bottom on which you stack rings.

She is very friendly, and I enjoy when people stop to talk to her or lightly touch her chubby cheeks. She gives them the biggest, wrinkly-nose grin she can muster with all six teeth. Some people remark on how cute she is, while others remark how "fat" she is or note the scab on her chin.

It reminds me of when I used to take my oldest daughter to town. All she really knew how to say was "hi", but she used the word often. She would sit in the shopping cart and scope around for someone walking her way. When she spied a likely candidate she would splash the biggest grin on her face she could manage, and as they walked past she would look them in the eye and declare "HI!". More often than not, she would get a smile and a "hi" in return, which was her goal, after all.

There were those, however, who would walk right past her, ignoring the big grin and the cheery little "Hi!". Her face would fall as she watched them walk away, and she would get a look of confusion at their lack of response. But no sooner had they taken a few steps past, her little head would swivel to find the next unsuspecting object of her good cheer.

I've never seen a more cheerful spirit than when she was a little one. I hated to think of the day when that spirit would be lost. Her's was exceptionally strong, but there is a light in most young children that diminishes along life's path until one day you wake, and it is only a memory. She is still an exceptionally kind-hearted young lady, with an exceptionally sweet young baby of her own, but that special light of childhood has faded into memory.

No wonder Christ said "suffer the little children to come unto me, for such is the kingdom of heaven". How I look forward to the day when we will all find again the fresh joy of the young child.