The Unexpected Joy of Repetition: From Children's Books to the Bible
One of the things I love about being a parent of a toddler is all the reading you get to do. I had forgotten how many hours you can sit with a child on your lap reading the same book over and over again. It’s wonderful.
Over the last 20 months, I have gained vast knowledge, nearly memorizing books like “Good Night, Moon,” “Chicka Chicka, Boom, Boom,” “Hand, Hand, Finger Thumb”, and many many more.
I can tell you why Olivia doesn’t like naps, how good she is at sandcastles, what she thinks about at museums, and what she dreams about at night. I can describe the habits of curious George; how he likes to try new things and occasionally steals balloons.
I can't help but marvel at the power of repetition. These seemingly endless loops don't just entertain my daughter, they teach her profound lessons about the world, about language, and even about herself.
This got me thinking about my own reading habits, particularly my yearly journey through the Bible. When faced with a dense chapter in Exodus, it's easy to feel bogged down, questioning the point of revisiting familiar passages. But the secret lies in understanding the purpose of repetition.
It's not about earning brownie points with God. We don't read to impress Him or stockpile religious merit. Instead, it's about transformation. Just like those countless readings of "Goodnight Moon" instilled a love for language in my daughter, revisiting biblical stories allows their truths to permeate my heart.
I yearn to memorize God's law, not as a rote duty, but as a way to internalize its wisdom, much like I effortlessly recall the alphabet thanks to countless book readings. Repetition becomes a tool for deeper understanding and connection. It helps bury God’s Word into our hearts.
There's an undeniable delight in repetition. As G.K. Chesterton beautifully said,
“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, ‘Do it again’; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. Is it possible that God says every morning, ‘Do it again’ to the sun; and every evening, ‘Do it again’ to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.” (Gilbert K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy. (New York: John Lane Company, 1909), 108–109).
So, the next time you find yourself in a repetitive cycle, whether it's a child's favorite book or a seemingly dry chapter in the Bible, remember the potential for transformation. Embrace the repetition, and allow it to work its magic on your heart.
With You;
Pastor Tim
