One Month Old

 

 

 

 

Today, Lazarus turns one month old!
It has been absolutely DELIGHTFUL and joyous having him in our lives for the one month he has been here in our arms.

 

He’s the gruntiest baby we have had so I cannot say his ‘coos’, but his “grunts” are so cute … his little stretching and his blue eyes searching the room for sounds and lights … his whispy brown hair and his warm body pressed against mine while we sleep …  having a baby is a blessing I truly cherish!

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. I cannot understand why some people think babies are not fantastic! When leaving church last week, one elderly lady  jokingly commented to her grown-up, married daughter, “Oh, don’t get too close to her baby! We don’t want you to get any ideas!”  They laughed and did not seem to grasp the context of their own words.

Both Abby and I looked at each other – and when we were in the car later, we wondered out loud … why would having a baby be a bad idea?

Now, not knowing this mother’s circumstance, I am not quick to judge – I do not know her life’s story. However, it did have me wondering why would her mother, the Christian grandmother, imply that to have a baby would be a mistake or a bad idea? The Bible clearly says, oh so many wonderful times, that children are a BLESSING from Heaven! Horray! I completely agree with this. We have heard this before from others – this was not the first time. It saddens me to think the Christian church, in general, has become so fooled into thinking that children – or multiple children – are not a “good idea.”

On the contrary, we had some little girls over to visit today and they quickly scooped up baby Lazarus, oohing and ahhing over the bundle. One of the girls, who is 11 years old, cradled him in her arms, looked up and said, ” I just want to take him home with me!” How precious – and what a difference in words and attitude shared from the latter mature Christian mentioned.

Dear mother, if you are feeling like your calling as a mother and wife is not a blessing,
perhaps it is time to find a refreshing, godly mentor in your life,
friends that encourage you with your children and in your journey as a mother. This world is very self-centered and will tell you that you deserve to always be happy and satisfied, that you can do it all.
But – you can’t.
You cannot do everything that everyone else does.  Taking care of a family means, in multiple ways, one must deny such fanciful whims.

“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
“It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;…”

And that can be a a daily challenge.
Don’t we all want to sit down and the table and simply eat, without having to get up and pour milk for six thirsty children … or cut up meat into tiny pieces instead of digging into your own meal? Maybe you are even required to give up a job you love to stay home and raise your children. Or change your lifestyle to benefit your family. Yes, it may be hard to do so. We are all selfish. It goes against our nature to be servants. We are naturally selfish, sinful and self-rewarding. But dying to ourselves and living out servanthood IN THE HOME is a great responsibility for parents.

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Having a family  is rewarding, joyful, exciting, wonderful, humorous, delightful and fantastic –
but it is also one of the best places to exercise servanthood.
I pray that you see your calling as a mother to be one that is precious –
a mission field all in its own.
A chance to show Jesus to little ones through daily, sometimes-fun-sometimes-mundane tasks.
And I pray that our Christian brothers and sisters in the church see this calling through God’s eyes and once again turns their heart towards the blessing of children – whether we are blessed with one, two or five or 15 children.

“And He {Jesus} called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said,
“Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven …”

Matthew 18:3