Mama’s Touch

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I cherish my earliest childhood memories. I don’t know why they all involve my sweet daddy:

• Daddy riding me piggyback
• Daddy kneeling to pray beside the bed
• Daddy holding me and reciting:

“I see the moon.
The moon sees me.
God bless the moon.
God bless me.”

I well remember somebody playing “This Little Piggy” with my toes. I think it was Daddy.

This little piggy went to market.
This little piggy stayed home.
This little piggy had roast beef.
This little piggy had none,
And this little piggy cried wee, wee, wee,
All the way home.

I’m a fan of the traditional songs and rhymes of childhood. Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but they seem to be a part of cultural literacy to me. More important than cultural literacy though is that wonderful experience of sitting in Mama or Daddy’s lap and giggling while you bounce up and down with:

“Ride a little horsey up to town to get some candy . . . ”

And then go upside down while he or she keeps you from hitting the floor with:

“. . . don’t fall down.”

What joy parents and children share when parents move their hands to make them do the motions to:

Pat-a-cake. Pat-a-cake. Baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Pat it and roll it and mark it with a B,
And put it in the oven for baby and me.

The very best mamas and daddies have time for their children, whether it’s “This Little Piggy,” “Pat-a-Cake,” or hugging goodnight (at any age.)

This Little Pig Went to Market
by Lilly Martin Spencer, 1857,
Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago,
Roger and J. Peter McCormick Endowment Fund;
through prior gifts of the
George F. Harding Collection
and the Chicago Normal School Alumni

Jesus had time for children, too.

People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them.
Mark 10:13-16

 

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