Our youngest granddaughter, Lila, will turn two years-old in July. She is already leaving behind the sounds of infancy, coos and gurgles, screams of pain and unexplained giggles. She is building a vocabulary of nouns and verbs – dog, rock, water and sister are being tentatively connected to run, jump, throw and go. Abstract language like love and hate; serious and silly; or, need and desire will follow. Presently, Lila is simply content with the unquestioned love of family and trustworthy adults. Later she will experience disappointment and fear which will require Lila employs new language. New words used to motivate, persuade, warn and enlist will be added in time.
The process of language building will continue almost uninterrupted until, while approaching teen years, Lila will lapse back into unintelligible sounds during telephone calls, odd text symbols and abbreviations, and strange body language only other teens can interpret. Have you noticed, the language of adolescents is primitive, almost baby-like as an emerging adult learns about self and trust, new boundaries for relationships and responsibilities? Teens cry at the drop of a hat, routinely have hurt feelings, and learn the language of feelings and friendship.
The language of prayer is similar. We begin with primitive, simple appeals for assurance and safety, cries for the basic, like food and housing. As we gain confidence and spend time with an intelligent God, we learn the language of prayer which results in trust, not manipulation. All who pray experience the comfort of sensing and learning flowing from God. Simple, how-to-articulate sounds flow from the depths of sorrow or joy; need or abundance; or failure and success without embarrassment because praying people know God understands and accepts them in heaven.
Let us spend time praying, growing in the language shared with God.
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