A post on a friend's Facebook page has stayed with me for the past few weeks.
Matt: "I wish I knew her sooner."
Me: "What do you mean?"
Matt: "I mean...35 years with no Eleanor."
Her husband was talking about their 5 month old, always smiling daughter. She is their second daughter, and seems like just the happiest baby you've ever seen (at least according to Facebook pictures, but really, who takes pictures of an unhappy baby?) In the comments section, another mother posted that her husband asked their baby, "Where have you been all my life?", and several others commented on how pre-baby memories vanished soon after they arrived and how hard it is to picture going back to a life without children.
My friend countered by stating that she and her hubby had made some awesome memories and taken some amazing trips, but that having kids "amplifies each experience," that everything is made fresh and exciting, and "we get to experience things with two very excited sets of eyes."
My comment was: "Love this! I agree with you that life can be just as awesome before and after kids, but the thing is, kids take everyday experiences and turn them into something magical. I will always remember taking trips with Scott, but I'm also pretty sure I'll remember the look on Coleman's face when he held a worm and a tiny frog for the first time today while we were digging in the flower bed. Everything, from going to the grocery store to hearing your child talk about Baby Moses and the "bad king" is fresh and new." This was followed by other comments about watching one's hand pop out of a sleeve and kicking a ball around the back yard and squealing with glee, and how they say that "you get the first five years of your life back" when you have kids. Pretty sure God gives us these awesome moments to make up for 2 am feedings, diaper blow-outs, and temper tantrums....
The following Monday was filled with severe thunderstorms in our neck of the woods. Finally, just before dusk, my favorite time of day when the sun shoots golden rays at the perfect angle through the trees, the sun came out and this complete double rainbow formed against a purple sky. Absolutely breathtaking. We rushed outside to take it in.
 |
| Hard to see the second one, and this pic does not do any justice to how vivid it was in real life. |
Melt. My. Heart. So many lessons in three simple, convicting, adorably misspoken sentences.
Do we recognize that He is with us always, that he "comes to our house"? When we see a rainbow, do we remember that God always keeps his promises or just admire it's beauty? And when we do, how quick are we to thank Him for simple everyday pleasures like playtime and sunshine and frogs and rainbows in a voice filled with amazement?
Going back to the discussion on Facebook. There are two huge parallels between that discussion and our Christian walk. First, as babes in Christ, there is a newness, a hope, a freshness that must be nurtured to become a mature Christian. Seeing things through a fresh set of eyes, capturing that innocence that can only be found in children, hungering for knowledge to gain an understanding of the world around you. We should be more like that in our Christian walk, seeing God in all that he has done and made for us. Joyfully thanking him for everything from our Mommy and Daddy to our trains and tracks. Singing "Jesus Loves Me" off key at the top of our lungs. Unabashedly telling people "I love you" and freely handing out hugs and kisses. In fact, Jesus rebuked his own disciples for turning children away in Luke 18:15-16.
"But Jesus called for them, saying, 'Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.Truly I say to you,whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.' "
The second parallel has to do with wiping the slate clean, erasing memories and not being able to imagine life any other way. Isn't that what Jesus does for us when we put Him on in baptism? Our past sins are forgiven, Christ no longer remembers them and we are given the go ahead to do the same. Paul talks about "forgetting what is behind and straining for what is ahead" in Philippians 3:13. There would be a void in my life if Coleman wasn't here, but there would be an even bigger one if Christ weren't in it. For those that don't have children or don't know Christ, there is no way to explain how your heart can totally overflow with love. And I can't imagine the pain if I were to ever loose him. How much greater pain would I endure if I turned away from God? Once you experience that much joy, how do you live without it?
"35 years without Eleanor."
"35 years without Christ."
While you are focused on teaching the children in your life about the world, allow those little innocent minds to teach you something about its Creator.
No comments:
Post a Comment