A Child’s Chaos

My sister had had her granddaughter for part of a day before she called.  The joy in her voice was delightful, filled with memories of the day.  After wishing me a happy birthday, she proceeded to tell me of her day with her granddaughter, her PL.  She spoke of the “projects” that she, her husband and PL (3-1/2 years old) had spent much of the day doing together: planting seeds in the newly tilled garden, making a pie, cooking meatballs, and so much more…all squeezed into a few hours.

As she spoke about these “projects,” she also spoke about the “chaos” that enveloped them for those few hours and how wonderful it was to be in the midst of “a child’s chaos.”

I love that thought and I love it that she and her husband find such joy in the midst of “a child’s chaos.”

Merriam-Webster defines chaos as:

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.  Genesis 1:2

As I listened to my sister, I not only heard joy and delight in this child’s busy-ness and desire to be with her grandparents, but I heard that in the midst of what looks to be a mess, things come to completion.  The “chaos” comes to order.  The delight grows with the sense of accomplishment with a special one who is loved very much.  I also heard, through my sister’s words, that love grew even more than it was while in the process of going from chaos to order.

Did not God’s love for His creation grow as He turned the formless void and darkness into something He called “good” and “very good.”

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.  Genesis 1:31a

Father, You have made the little children precious in Your sight.  They come with innocence and openness.  As I have grown older, I (and many others) lose those childlike qualities.  Life experiences can cause that too.  Children can teach me trust and unconditional love.  They show me kindness and tender caring.  They remind me that I have unexpressed creativity within, needing to be freed.  They also remind me that I was a child once and still have some of her in there who would love to come out and play.  Thank You, Lord, for these little ones.  May we know Your love through them as they interact in our lives.  I have been blessed by this child who lives well over a thousand miles away, yet I sense she is right here with me at times through You, through my sister, and my nephew.  Thank You for my sister too, Father.  She (and her husband) are so in love with their little PL.  I am so glad…for I gain from that love too.  I pray in the Name of Your Son.  Amen. 

P.S.  My sister has one living son who married in his late thirties and PL is the first and only grandchild.  Plus the other two of us in this family are the aunts of this one nephew.  We never had children, making PL all the more special for all of us.

graphic:  http://dryicons.com/free-graphics/preview/lovely-butterfly/