BABY LOVE NOTES~ PAPA by Renita F. Shadwick

...You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise [fn2]
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

Psalm 8:1, 2

"Papa"

By the time Zakiya was 9 months old, she had a full fledged love affair going on with her paternal grandfather. She would say "Papa" over and over and over. Zakiya would climb up onto his lap and holding his bearded face in her pudgy little hands, she would stroke his whiskers until they both broke out in peals of laughter.

When he would repose in his big chair, she would squeeze herself behind him and simply rub his head, sometimes to his distraction. She could often be found on the floor, either between his legs, where she would try to walk, holding on to each limb like a railing, or sitting at his feet, rubbing his toes, or sitting on his feat, resting herself against his legs. She would pat his back. She would rub his chest. She would plant big wet baby kisses all over his face and hands. She would follow him everywhere in the house, reaching up to gain purchase of hand or shirt tail or trouser leg. She would bust into our bedroom in the morning with a big snaggle tooth grin and climb onto Papa.

In the evening, her parents would usually find her curled up in Papa's arms, and from his arms they would put her to bed. With great amusement I watched this baby behave like this with my husband.

Jerome's heart would swell with joy everytime that little tyke came his way. He said "I'll never be able to deny her anything, she loves me so sweetly".

A few days after Jerome made this statement, Zakiya taught me about loving without condition. My daughter-in-law was sitting on the couch in our living room holding an almost asleep Zakiya, who was noisily sucking on a her bottle. The front door of our home announced Jerome's return from work. Zakiya sat up. As his footsteps introduced his entry into the hallway, Zakiya squealed "Papa", and dropping her bottle, squirmed out of her mother's arms and went straightway to meet him. As he entered the room, Zakiya flung herself at his legs.

"Hold on now baby", Jerome said, "Let Papa sit his case down".
"Papa!"
"Can I take off my shoes, little girl?"
"Papa!"
"Just let me go to the bathroom, my baby."
"Papa!"

Zakiya would not stop calling him or following him until he stopped and gave all of his attention to her. Just her. Him and her. In that moment, love would abound.

I pray that you develop such a desire for God, for the things of God, for the smell of God, for the Word of God, for the person of God, for the presence of God, that you would move with all abandon to get to Him.

I pray that when you have your meeting with God, that you would fill the time just loving Him. Holding His beard, kissing His face, sitting at His feet.

I pray that just like Zakiya, you would chase him, calling on that Great Name, making your desire for him so personal, so intimate, so desperate, regardless of who may be holding you, regardless of what you may be consuming, in spite of what ever level of comfort you may have,

I pray that you would chase Him hard. Until He would turn to you - in the middle of holding this world together, turn to you - as he processes the prayers of the Saints, turn to you, set aside time for you, catch you up in His arms, just you.

You and Him.... Papa!

LOVE SCRIPTURE:
1 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise [fn2]
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [fn3]
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8 (NIV)

Writer, Renita F. Shadwick, is Community Builder @ United Way of Buffalo, New York. This
veteran actress of Paul Robeson Theatre is also an anointed licensed Children's Pastor of Elim Christian Church of Buffalo, NY. She is currently working on series of children’s books-teaching children how to walk out the word of God in sneakers. She is married to her soul mate of 25 years, Jerome Shadwick, Sr. and is the proud mother of four sons, three grandsons and four grand daughters which are the inspiration of these writings.

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