"Luciano says it's bad to make promises to Diosito lindo," Isabel remarked to me one afternoon.
"Is that what he calls him, 'Diosito lindo?'" I asked. "I have some grown-up friends who say that, too, but I don't like it. It's like saying God is little, and that is the last thing He is!"
My daughter nodded her head. "I don't like it, either. It's like ..." Her voice trailed off as she searched for the right word. "He's weak?" I suggested. "Yeah," she agreed decisively.
We talked some more about the promises to God statement but it was the "Diosito lindo" comment that really stayed with me. Ironically I had started drafting a post by the same title just a few days ago, after a chat with an unsaved adult friend. In the talk I'd had with her she was crediting God for doing some great miracles of provision for their family. Every time she spoke His name, however, it was as "Diosito lindo."
This article provides an excellent, understandable explanation of the diminutive in Spanish and I highly recommend it. To summarize bluntly, though, the ending -ito can indicate both affection and small size. In the case of "Diosito lindo" the former is a given, but unavoidably the latter also is perceived. In other words, one might translate it as "My dear, sweet God" which expresses certain feelings for Him but at the same time (in my opinion) places Him alongside Santa Claus in power and priority.
As Isabel and I agreed that day, our God is anything but little or weak! Indeed His power is immeasurable. His power is surpassing greatness (Ephesians 1:19.) And his size? According to Isaiah 66:1, God says "The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool ..."
I for one am so glad that my God is far more than a "Diosito lindo!" May I do better at sharing His greatness with others. He alone is worthy of our praise!
"Is that what he calls him, 'Diosito lindo?'" I asked. "I have some grown-up friends who say that, too, but I don't like it. It's like saying God is little, and that is the last thing He is!"
My daughter nodded her head. "I don't like it, either. It's like ..." Her voice trailed off as she searched for the right word. "He's weak?" I suggested. "Yeah," she agreed decisively.
We talked some more about the promises to God statement but it was the "Diosito lindo" comment that really stayed with me. Ironically I had started drafting a post by the same title just a few days ago, after a chat with an unsaved adult friend. In the talk I'd had with her she was crediting God for doing some great miracles of provision for their family. Every time she spoke His name, however, it was as "Diosito lindo."
This article provides an excellent, understandable explanation of the diminutive in Spanish and I highly recommend it. To summarize bluntly, though, the ending -ito can indicate both affection and small size. In the case of "Diosito lindo" the former is a given, but unavoidably the latter also is perceived. In other words, one might translate it as "My dear, sweet God" which expresses certain feelings for Him but at the same time (in my opinion) places Him alongside Santa Claus in power and priority.
As Isabel and I agreed that day, our God is anything but little or weak! Indeed His power is immeasurable. His power is surpassing greatness (Ephesians 1:19.) And his size? According to Isaiah 66:1, God says "The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool ..."
I for one am so glad that my God is far more than a "Diosito lindo!" May I do better at sharing His greatness with others. He alone is worthy of our praise!
2 comments:
Yes, God alone IS worthy of our praise simply because of who He is...the great I AM!
Have a blessed day! :)
As I was reading this it made me think that calling God Diosito Lindo almost seems like one is making God out to be an object rather than the living and mighty God that he is.
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