A Magnet to Cuteness

Kamla has often referred to me as a “Baby Magnet,” and that is not entirely inaccurate, but somehow it makes it sound like babies are attracted to me. No, in fact it is the other way around: I am a sucker for cuteness. I think China is pact full of cuteness in bundles, and I mean that both literally and figuratively.

With a population of 1.3 billion people, the ratio of babies to adults in China is something ridiculous like 1:5. It may sound like an exaggeration, but I honestly see Chinese babies everywhere, and they are simply adorable. I am squealing inside as I write this. My mother has often found my love of children so contradictory. I love kids, but do not want any of my own. Well, that is not entirely accurate, because I am very open to the idea of adoption, but I think it all depends on whether the Lord chooses to bless me with a husband in the future. Either way, it is not something I care to waste too many brain cells worrying about. The Lord provides abundantly, and at my current place in life, I enjoy goo-ga-ga-ing over all the adorable children in the lovely city of Nanjing.

Due to the really damp winters that Nanjing has, babies are often wrapped up to the point that they look like marshmallow penguins, so stuffed full of layers that their arms stick out perpendicular to their little bodies. For the occasional few children that actually walk themselves in the city, I have often found them waddling down the sidewalk with a grandmother trailing behind them. The thick layers inhibit free movement, and thus, it is so cute to watch as they struggle to balance themselves and walk down the street. I however, feel bad for these children though as the weather has begun to warm up. While their parents are down to 2 layers of clothing, these poor kids are red in the faces with still another 10 layers of clothing on. Regardless though, I adore the kids here in China. They are simply precious.

I guess I have always just had an eye to spot cuteness, because no matter where I am, I will spot the mother hoisting a child over her shoulder across the street. Kamla will always spin around like three times, as I point frantically at the cute baby, and she’s like, “how did you even notice that?” I guess I really am a magnet to babies.

But at the same time, I think I have a soft spot for all things cuddly, fuzzy, and cute. I spot tiny birds like no other, and dogs as if they were the most precious things in the world. In the community where I live, a neighbor across from our building had purchased a puppy a couple of months back. However, from what I have observed, Chinese do not enjoy physically petting their pets as much as we do. In fact, physical interaction or affection with their pets is slim to none. At first, the puppy was super hyper. The friendly creature it was, it would go greet everyone and say “hi!” I cannot resist puppy eyes on any creature, and pet him whenever I get the chance to. However, after a mild scolding from his owner one time, and probably some training of some sort, he was a little more hesitant to come and greet me. However, I still walk over to him and let him sniff me, so that I can pet him. This one simple gesture of affection over the past few months has caused this pup to grow somewhat attached to me, albeit the demonstration of this affection is always brief. I think he recognizes the sound of my heels whenever I come back from my internship. When he hears me coming, he will run up to me to let me pet him. Although I don’t think he really knows how to play, he gets excited simply to have someone reach out and touch him.

In this same sense, I think that is much of the social problem with China. Not to say I am comparing the condition of a dog with the average Chinese, as that would be too rude, but the affliction is much the same. Since Chinese people are often so busy with their school or work lives, they do not have the time to settle down and just relax, interact with a setting other than a structured workplace. As a result, in spite of the company of 1.3 billion people, I find that they are often super lonely. They crave a relationship of some sort, whether romantic or friendship; it is just tragic. I think I need to remind myself that although I am often tired, the simplest gesture of just caring for someone makes a huge difference, especially in China. They will remember you. Whether it is having manners at a restaurant and saying “Thank you” to a waitress when she gives you something, or asking how someone is doing sincerely, I think that is the true way of demonstrating a bit of the kindness the Bible speaks of. Being a witness for the Lord does not mean you have to be in someone’s face about religion. No, it can simply mean showing that something is different about you, and for me personally, that difference is because of Jesus working in my life. We do not choose a religion to participate in it every so often. No, being Christian is your being; it is a lifestyle that needs to be put into practice every day. That is what it means to be Christian, and I need to continue to strive towards this refining of my character into the likeness of Christ.