Looking at our babies, glimpsing how God sees us

Julian Paparella

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Infant hand reached up to clutch an adult finger.

Pexels photo.

Having a baby can be a hectic time, yet it is filled with glimpses of heaven. That’s been my experience these past few months, as we welcomed our first child into the world.

The moment our daughter was born, she was taken to the observation room for some tests, where I got to accompany her. My strongest instinct standing there, looking at our baby for the first time, was to make sure that she didn’t feel alone, as if we had abandoned her. I did whatever I thought might reassure her, cooing to her as she opened her eyes for the first time, saying, “Don’t worry, we’re right here with you.” I realized then that this must be how God is with us: always wanting to reassure us of his presence, to surround us with his nearness, and to remind us how close he is to us, how he never abandons us.

Then came time for the first diaper change. I had changed the diapers of my younger brothers and various kids that I babysat over the years, but that was a couple of decades ago now. As I cleaned her up, I couldn’t help but think that God does the same with us. In a certain sense, isn’t confession and receiving God’s forgiveness basically like a divine diaper change, removing everything yucky that clings to us in order to make us fresh and clean anew?

Just like adults, babies can go through an emotional rollercoaster on a daily basis. They can smile and laugh with delight, then cry uncontrollably as if it’s the end of the world. As parents, we want to be there through the ups and the downs – even though the ups are much more enjoyable and less nerve-wracking! It has filled me with such wonder watching our little girl start to smile, giggle, and babble. As I look into her eyes and smile at her, it occurs to me how God does the exact same with us. He looks at us and fills with delight, seeing in us the image of his Son and recognizing us as his sons and daughters. The same is true late at night, in the moments when our daughter starts crying from her crib, just when you thought she was finally asleep. Though my initial impulse might be to let it ride, I can’t help but want to be there for her, to comfort her back to sleep. Likewise, when she’s screaming at the top of her lungs, even when we have no idea why. Same goes when we are at the end of our rope, when we’re sad, upset, or inconsolable – God is right there with us. He doesn’t always fix the problem right away, but he remains close to us, carrying us through whatever we are experiencing, rocking us gently, singing to us sweetly, and giving us signs of his faithful love.

The adventure of parenthood is just beginning for my wife and me, but already it makes me realize in a new light what St. Paul called “the heights and the length and the depths and the breadth of God’s love” (Ephesians 3:18). Whether in moments of sheer delight, as we rejoice over our children, or in the times of patiently being there, persevering through the tears in the middle of the night, parents get a glimpse on a daily basis of how God is with each one of us.