Sweet Little Baby Jesus

Unfortunately, my sense of humor is not the best, and so I often disagree with the general public on things that are supposed to be pretty funny. Like, the "sweet little baby Jesus" prayer that was made so famous by the movie Talladega Nights. Everybody around me thinks that it's hilarious how the character of Ricky Bobby prays to "8 pound, 6 ounce baby Jesus" all the time, despite that Jesus did actually grow up and died as a full grown man.

Now, it's not that I'm offended by it at all. In fact, I think Will Ferrell is usually quite funny - I just don't see the humor behind these famous quotes of the movie beyond what was funny during my viewing in the theater. I'm not upset and I don't believe it's blaspheme or anything like that... I just don't think it's hilarious and worth repeating over and over again.

What I do think is funny, is God's sense of humor. He is able to use things like the ridiculous movie aforementioned to get people like me to think more about the life of Jesus.

My husband and I were just talking last night about Jesus/God and how there is a good reason for everything that happens here on this borrowed Earth. We agreed that even the most atrocious crimes, the most hideous circumstances, and the worst luck, are all a part of God's greater plan.

And, when I went to bed last night, I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for all those times when God has tried to tell me or show me something and I just didn't catch on. I thanked him for not making me wholly responsible for KNOWING what is going on in the world, WHY bad things happen, and HOW I am supposed to respond to them.

When we had circle time with the daycare kiddos this morning, we once again counted how many days there are until the day we celebrate Jesus' birthday - and one of the (older) kiddos referred to Jesus as "baby Jesus."

And, that's when I started thinking again about Ricky Bobby and more about Jesus' life as a baby.

And, I started churning around in my head what Jesus' infant and toddler years might have been like. I believe that he cried when he teethed. Jesus can feel pain, after all. I believe that he cried when he needed something. For, even Jesus needs to be able to communicate with his parental figures. I also believe that he may have had separation anxiety as a baby. I believe he has social anxiety even now, today, even if it's a whole different kind of separation.

Let me stop a moment and qualify this post by stating what is probably the obvious: I am not fully educated in the life of Christ. I read my bible and pay attention to sermons, and desire to know more about my Creator and his Son, but I am the first to admit that I don't know enough facts about the life and times of Christ. I am only blogging today about my thoughts - sharing some things that have gone through my head just this morning.

But, it's hard for me to believe that Jesus, perhaps, went through the "testing boundaries" phase. I don't know that he ever bit a peer to get his way. I doubt that he ever screamed at his parents in anger... or that he threw things out of frustration towards his own family.

But, isn't that an interesting thing to contemplate? What would Jesus be like as a toddler. I look at the kids who are making joyful noises in the playroom today, and I can see little bits of Jesus in them. Their joy is contagious. Their play is always innocent (and by that I mean that they don't mean any malice, harm, or annoyance to result from their play). Their hearts and minds are open to give and receive love. They help each other and play together in a way that (usually) is so peaceful.

And of course, there are times when I miss the innocent purity in the children I care for. When one of them bites or hits or runs the other way just to push my buttons. When one screams or yells out of anger.

I must not forget to mention that I often lose my own purity and goodness, as I'm reacting to stressful situations with the kiddos and acting selfishly.

But, today, I am able to address the children with more patience. More love. More wonder... as I imagine that Jesus was once their size. And it feels good to know that God is in control. Even when things aren't going as planned. Even when someone is frustrated with someone else. Even when tensions are high. Something as simple as Talladega Nights can help me recenter myself. That's pretty amazing.