What Is It About Babies?

There is something so powerful about very young babies. I love to watch how people react to them. On one level babies are so utterly dependent on others for their survival. They can’t talk to make their needs known and they can’t walk or manipulate objects to bring about their desires. Yet, they are, for the most part, so “taken care of” by the rest of us. Ever notice how people just can’t stop smiling in the baby’s presence. They kiss the baby again and again on its little bald head with this spontaneous outpouring of love, protection, and nurturance. They keenly observe the baby’s expressions and whimpering trying to figure out what he or she might need and then they give him or her whatever they think might satisfy that need. I’ve seen newborn babies draw that kind of love, attention and caring out of people who would otherwise be hesitant to express it.

There is something pure about newborn babies that brings out something pure in us. Not only do we see the baby in a non-judgmental way but, even though we couldn’t prove it, we feel as though we are in the presence of someone who doesn’t judge us either.

I think the experience with babies helps us to realize an age-old truth given to us by St. Francis that it is in the giving that we receive. The funny thing is, when we feel love and give, we aren’t giving in order to receive. Our desire to give is a natural outgrowth of the experience of feeling love.

There is another time, later in life when we feel this way. It is when we fall in love with someone. Their presence fills us with joy. We don’t care what we do as long as we can be near them. Our natural desire is to please them if we can. Our beloved smells good, feels good, is easily forgiven and puts us in touch with the best in ourselves and it all feels wonderful.

Many people dismiss this kind of love as childish infatuation—a fleeting rush of emotions that just happens to us without our control.  As the song by the rock group, The Eagles, laments, “Hopeless romantics, here we go again.”

I used to agree with that sentiment but I don’t anymore. I think the love we feel when we first fall in love is true love, the real thing. The trick is learning how to access that love after the newness of the experience has passed. I think it is not only possible to do this but it is a worthy goal to set for ourselves, especially with a committed partner. Imagine what life would be like if you felt toward your partner the way you do toward a newborn.