What's in a baby?

I believe one of the reasons most people are so excited over babies is that a baby is a newborn. (Like duh?! Allow me to elaborate.) A newborn baby symbolizes a fresh start, a new beginning. Innocence and uncontamination (which most of us cannot profess to have.) A baby also represents a clean slate of hopes that have not led to disappointment, aspirations and dreams which have a lifetime to be fulfilled.

Most of us have gone through a number of years of living and along the way, we've picked up baggages of guilt, pain and disappointment. And I suppose many of us long for a fresh start. If only I could return to the year 1985, when I was a naughty little punk. I actually pulled the chair from under my grandmother and caused her to fall down. Why did I do that? I don't know. It was a moment of pure malice on my part. And this is the grandmother who brought me up and I deeply loved (she's since departed). Till this day I feel deeply repentant. I don't remember much of my childhood but I remember this. And I would like to go back to that fateful day just to rectify this mistake. I would gladly go through PSLE, O Levels, A Levels all over again.

A baby represents a perfect life, one that's not marred by mistakes and not scarred by other people's mistakes.

So for my dear friend whose baby was just born 2 days ago, I truly and sincerely pray that she will be spared the harsh rigours of this life but will always be clothed by the grace of Jesus. That her destiny will be committed to the Lord from day 1 for that's the only way she will be protected and kept safe. And as new parents, as my pastor said, by the time u get the hang of parenting your job is over. It's really on the job training and there's bound to be mistakes made along the way. So I pray that you will be blessed with great wisdom and understanding. And the source of this is a deep fear of the Lord. So may you always bring your dear daughter up in and with the fear of the Lord in your hearts. God bless your family.