First Words

Sunday, January 29, 2023
Listen to this devotional:
Listen while you read: "Wonderful Grace Of Jesus"1 (Lyrics)

Psalm 8:2 – Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. (ESV)

Bianca, a staff member at my residence, sent me a picture of her baby, Emma, who arrived early in November, 2022. Even though Emma was sleeping only two hours at a time, her mother told me how wonderful she was, and that Emma's father was thrilled to see his baby every time he came home from work. Emma is off to a good start!

I was reminded of how much and how quickly babies learn from the adults around them.

We often wait to hear a baby's first words — "Mama" or "Dada" or whatever. In speaking about this with a young doctor, Jacob told me that the first word that he ever said was "truck". Obviously, his parents had repeatedly commented about his love of playing with trucks.

In discussing this subject with a senior manager at my residence, Alberto said that his young son didn't speak until he was three. His older sister took care of him — including doing his talking! His first word was "Google". Again, being a bright young child, he listened to his parents, and even at his young age, learned about this newly developed search tool.

While there are many lessons that we can learn from the young people saying "truck" or "Google", one of the most important lessons is that babies listen and learn from those of us who are older.

What a responsibility that we have to be careful what we say! How sad it is when we hear a youngster defiantly saying "Mine!" and being unwilling to share with a playmate.

Even more ominous are the current trending of "goblin mode" and "gaslighting". Google them and you won't like what you read!

I believe that it is much safer and better to follow God's wise direction:

Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (KJV)

As we interact with the babies in our families, let's be careful to choose our words wisely and be good examples both for them and their parents.

Prayer: Dear Father, help us to listen, to learn, and to help to train others to follow You. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share this devotional on Facebook     Like PresbyCan on Facebook

About the author:

Vincent Walter <vwalter@bell.net>
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Send your feedback to the author

1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    Amen, Vince.


    Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today. Have a blessed day. Blessings.


    Thanks, Vincent. You’re right, we hear too many wrong words out of young mouths. We need to clean up our talk.


    Thanks Vincent! Lovely memories of caring for grandsons and getting to hear them start to talk! Bless you!
    (BC)


    Vincent, I found your devotion very uplifting today as you talked about the most sacred of all humans. Such a good thing to warn about words that we might say. Have a wonderful day!


    Very wise words today!! You are so right. I always enjoy your devotionals.
    The folks in your residence are fortunate to have you living there. Keep up your good work.


    Thank you for your devotional today, Vince. Excellent words of advice. It surely is important that we present a good example to the little ones in our lives, along with teaching them how wonderful it is to have Jesus in our lives. Blessings for your writings.


    Good morning, Vince,
    I enjoyed your devotional. I do not remember what my children or grandchild said first. I found it interesting what these people remember. I do believe that children pick up very easily from the people around them so that they learn to crawl, walk, and talk. We are not born knowing how to do these things and learn many things in life from imitating and watching others.
    If children see us praying, reading the Bible, attending church and practicing being humble and non-judgmental, that they will absorb these behaviours. They might not do them all, but they will have a sense of God being important in our lives and have a chance to make their own decisions in the future.
    Thank you for inspiring us to think of how we influence others. Blessings.


    Dear Vincent,
    Thanks for the awesome devotional today. I so enjoy your Devotionals.
    Looking forward to your writing.
    Blessings to you this week.
    (Ont.)


    Hi Vince. I enjoy your continuing devotions every month. My precious wife was promoted to Glory last year and I am now residing at a retirement home. Its beautiful and extremely well managed. Trusting your health continues to hold and that you are doing well. Take care.

Previous Post
«
Next Post
»
 



PresbyCan is a community of faithful, Holy Spirit-filled, Christ-centred, God-honouring Christians.