What are a babies first words?
“Da-Da”
Nothing new there. But the other day I was reading about how that was the case typically with little Hebrew babies as well.
“Big deal,” you say. “I’ll be sure and log that away.”
Well, before you do—log it in file 13, that is—consider this. The Hebrew equivalent is “Abba.” Obviously, they are not going to speak their first words in the good ole’ mother tongue of England. It’s a totally different word, pronounced a completely different way. And I always thought (and been told) babies said “da-da” because it was easier for them to say than, “ma-ma.”
But what about “Abba?” Is that easier to say than the Hebrew word for Mother, “Ima” (pronounced ee-ma)?
Maybe. Or maybe, just maybe, the cry of our heart shows up before any of us even realizes it. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart…” Could it be that from the get go we start realizing something’s not quite right? The Bible says that we are all born in sin—not a popular notion these days but true nonetheless. Of course a little baby can’t fathom that, but maybe they can still feel it—still feel the longing, the need.
We kicked off “DIVINE” this past weekend and I was sooooo excited to do so. Teaching through a book of the Bible is by far my favorite type of teaching—occasionally we pause to deal with an issue or address something else God has put on my heart (as was the case with, “United”) but we always return to the BOOK. Last week we learned that all of us are flawed and Jesus was sent to deal with the massive ‘recall’ of broken humanity. At the foot of the cross all is restored—better than ever! Father and children reunited!
I’m so thrilled and honored to be able to teach the great folks of Southbrook through the book of John and let them in on a little secret of mine…
I still cry out to my heavenly Abba! And He still answers!
I love you, Da-Da!
* BTW, Yes, that is the e-Trade commercial baby. That little dude cracks me up!