Babies love to look into faces, especially those that show joy. Our brains are wired to build capacity for joy by looking into faces that say "I love to be with you!" As we build our capacity for joy, we build pathways to get back to joy after experiencing negative emotions.

I have paired photos of babies' faces with the verses of Psalm 139. In Psalm 139, we read that God wants to be with us and is with us no matter where we go. He knew us before we were born and knows everything about us. We never have to fear being with him because he already knows all about us and loves us. What confidence and identity this gives us when we wonder who we belong to and why we are here. What awe and wonder this invokes in us as we consider this God who is so much bigger than our minds can imagine.

My hope is that the children and adults that read Psalm 139, will never despair nor wonder why they were born, but rather rejoice that we are alive and have a purpose, that God knows us inside and out and cares deeply for each one of us.
Read this book to a child you know, and watch their faces light up with joy!