Gratitude Challenge Day 6: Charity Never Faileth

Yesterday morning the older kids were anxious about Thanksgiving getting here and they fell into some of their usual arguments and fighting first thing. A little while later my oldest daughter crept into our room where my wife Angie and our 14-month-old baby Charity were still sleeping. Angie had to shoo her out of the room before she could open the closet door and wake up Charity, which was my daughter’s intention. A few minutes later our other daughter snuck into the room with the same goal, and Angie had to similarly stop her from waking the baby and send her out of the room. Not long afterwards the same thing happened again, this time from my oldest son who likewise wanted Charity and was similarly sent out of the room empty handed. They each had the same solution for dealing with a frustrating morning where they were not getting along with each other—go get the baby because she will love them no matter what! Today I give thanks for our precious little Charity who truly is so full of love!

               This famous scriptural description of the Christian virtue of charity applies so well to our little girl: “And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things…. Charity never faileth” (Moroni 7:45-46). One of the reasons she (and all little babies) is so easy to love, and why my children are so attached to her, is that she has no pride. There just simply is not the faintest semblance of arrogance or selfishness in a baby—they just instinctively love you and trust you, never getting angry at a specific individual or fighting with others. More than once I have reflected at the end of the day that Charity was the only one of my children who did not get mad at me for some reason that day.  She often wins the prize for the calmest of our clan. The only fighting she is involved in are the arguments of the others about who gets to hold or play with her. When the older children are frustrated they know that if they spend a little time with Charity they will feel better. Charity, indeed, never faileth to help solve their problems. Charity is for us a constant reminder of the love the rest of us should have, and I am amazed at how much love she can show to all of us while only a smile and a snuggle.

               This week as I was working I heard a terrifying scream from Charity and ran to find that she had fallen down the long flight of stairs to the basement. This was the second time, but gratefully again she was spared any injury, which to me is a miracle. I have only one explanation for how that happened for her (and our other children who similarly fell down those same stairs): her angels are indeed watching over her. The Savior said, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 18:10). While He likely was referring to those infants who pass away are taken back to the presence of God, perhaps for living children on earth we can understand “their angels” as those from the Father’s presence who are sent specially assigned to watch over them here. I certainly believe they are real and give thanks to God for the care He has given to our little Charity. I am so grateful especially for the gift of this little earthly angel He sent among us and for the love she brings to us all!