My youngest daughter has infused me with new life. She is two years old now. God has totally used this baby to show me some things about myself. I turned inward before she arrived in our lives. I didn’t realize it then, but I was living for myself. I love my wife and my other children, but I had taken a very selfish posture in life. My walk with the Lord became stale. My sinful nature was the culprit at the center of my inward turning.
Now, with the help of a loving, and forgiving God, and a precious, little two-year old girl… I have re-discovered love, “the verb,” and turned back toward God.
But what is it about this baby that has been so spiritually life-changing to me?
I really thought about it.
And after really seeking the Lord, I believe He wanted to show me this…
Whenever our precious Gracie is awake and doing what toddlers do, there are four active behaviors that define her daily life:
1. She loves. Her survival is based on this. She goes from me to mommy, from brother to sister, from Mamaw to Papaw, and at each stop she makes eye contact, gives hugs and kisses, and interacts with each person with affection. It is the spirit of my little girl… she loves.
2. She laughs. She goes out of her way to smile and laugh. She is so joyful. Sometimes, she laughs at things that aren’t very funny. And it seems she laughs at those things even louder and more pronounced than at other things. It’s because she makes a very real effort to seek out and find a laugh. And it is almost as contagious as her love.
3. She obeys. She wants to do anything she can to make mommy and daddy proud of her. She is very well-behaved, and for a two-year old that is unique! But she listens and does what is asked of her, in search of that beloved praise and affirmation from her parents.
4. She trusts. She blindly trusts us. She will be four or five steps above me on the stairway, and she’ll just jump down toward me without warning. She does this because she knows in her heart that her daddy will catch her without fail. And you can see both the thrill and the security in her face every time she does this. This trust has produced faith. And having faith is a huge part of a baby’s life… it’s a huge part of a Christian’s life.
Four profound characteristics…
Love, Laugh, Obey, and Trust.
“So now faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
“Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:23
“Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6
Lord Jesus, thank You for making my adorable, little girl an example and an avenue for me to find my way back to You again. Amen.
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3, 4
deepwaterwalk 