Sophie talks a lot nowadays. A lot, considering that she used to not want to talk at all - and just grunt and sign. In fact, she's quite the chatterbox now. If there is no one to talk to, she will talk to herself. Her hands "talk" to each other - and so do her feet. Her stuffed animals "talk". She whispers to herself while trying to figure out something on her own. She sings. Sometimes, she recites her favourite lines/scenes from her favourite Peppa Pig cartoons and tells herself stories (many of which repeat over and over again).
Often, when I am home, I am busy acknowledging her sentences (and seizing teachable moments) so that I can correct her grammar gently and surreptitiously (so that she doesn't get discouraged trying). Or her pronunciation. I suspect that she was reluctant to speak before because she didn't feel like she had it all down pat. However, she's fine with the corrections now and therefore, speaks freely without being afraid to make mistakes. For example:
Sophie: Mummy, look at me! I is going down steps... self...
Me: I am going down the steps by myself...
Sophie: I am going down the steps by myself, mummy.
Me: Wow! You did it by yourself? Well done, Sophie! Was it difficult?
Sophie: *beams proudly* Not difficult.
Me: Not at all?
Sophie: Not at all!
And so on.
Yet other times, I silently drink in her sentences, phrases, noises, and songs overloaded with cuteness (even when she is mad at us and saying things like, "I want to beat daddy!" or "I'll tell the spider to BITE you..." haha). I let her tell stories the way she wants so that I can enjoy them... I do enjoy Sophie at her current stage of life.
Likewise...
I am reminded by the conversations that I have with my daughter.. that as imperfect and ineloquent as our speech is in the eyes of God, He yet meets us halfway. We may not know how best to pray, but whenever we make the effort to talk to Him somehow, the Holy Spirit travails with us (Rom. 8:26-27). He groans according to God's will. He also inspires us to evaluate our own prayers - content, purpose, and position. He shows us the truth through His Word (read or remembered). He opens our eyes to the obvious signs in our circumstances. He grants us the peace to consider unbiasedly the words spoken by those of our community of faith. And we eventually find our hearts changed, our minds renewed, and our person transformed. We no longer pray because we merely want to be heard. Beyond that, we pray because we want God to guide us - to turn the agenda of our prayers around so that we pray the right way and for the right things. Meanwhile, I believe God rejoices when we speak to Him about everything. He regards our faith, trust, hope, and freedom in Christ with the affection and fierce pride every parent knows. And as a parent myself, I imagine that our cries of pain and injustice uncage the lion in Him to deliver us from our oppressor(s).
As the New Year dawns, I hope that it will be a year of trusting God and seeing the fruit of such trust. For His mercy, grace, and provision thus far, I am grateful.
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