Made to be Known
Sarah Grace lies on the floor, actively trying to eat her toes while my dad—her grandpa— lies next to her. Claire De Lune plays softly from his phone.
“You’ve got to get your arm out from under you,” he instructs as she attempts, once again, to complete a roll from back to belly.
“You’re so close! Just move that arm.”
Sarah Grace does not move her arm despite his directions, and he ends up pulling it through for her. She coos happily, impressed with her ‘successful’ roll to the front, while my dad begins to tickle her toes.
“You like this song, don’t you?” he says, pulling the music closer, “Isn’t piano music nice?”
She lets out another coo, now attempting to roll from belly to back.
Seeing my parents interact with Sarah Grace brings me so much joy. They love her, snuggle her, feed her, help with her diapers. They are just as smitten as we are, and they aren’t the only ones. My grandma (her great-grandma) fawns over her while her great-aunt Jojo brings her gifts. Her cousins— six and four— draw pictures of her riding a unicorn and sitting under a rainbow. Her uncle and aunt invite us to stay in their new house, holding Sarah Grace as she cries and walking her around their living room. This little girl is deeply loved and adored.
Watching generations come together– from my grandma to my baby– is touching to see. This sweet, innocent little girl has brought immense joy and connection to all of us. It reminds me that we were all babies once, we all will grow old one day, and—no matter our age— everyone wants to connect, to feel loved.
Watching this love unfold, I am reminded that this desire for love is not by accident. The God of the universe created us for connection, for friendship and family.
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15)
Jesus, in his immensity and holiness, calls his disciples friends. The Son of God looks at humanity— in all its waywardness— and says “I want to connect with you. I want you to know me, and I want to know you.”
Wow.
God does not hold us at a distance. He takes the time to know each and every one of his children. We were made for this connection. Just as God exists in the Trinity— infinite love between three in one— we, too, were meant to exist in community. From church to friends and family, God calls us to connect, to love one another (John 13:35). Across generations, we are called to care for and look out for each other.
As I look back to Sarah Grace and my dad on the floor where he is now blowing raspberries on her tummy, I’m grateful that God designed us this way– to love and be loved. We were made to be known and to know. One of the greatest gifts we have been given is the ability to know one another– and the invitation to know God.
Prayer for Being Known
Lord, Bless us with your presence. Bless us with the presence of each other. Help us to come together, in community, and know one another. Let us sit down together, do life together and take the opportunity to see you in the people around us. Help us to set aside time each day to sit quietly so that we can grow in our relationship with you. Amen.
