I love babies. I love everything about them…their sweet smell, fuzzy hair, and their absolutely captivating tiny giggles. I love serving babies, feeding them, bathing them, and playing with them.
I even love changing diapers.
At least I loved changing diapers. I no longer have any babies. But once upon a time…once, I had nine. Not all at once, mind you, but spaced out one by one by one.
Psalms 127: 3 – Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Nine little ones might seem like a lot to some folks but to me, honestly, it just never seemed like a lot. I miss the days when they were all little, all at home, long before life caught up with us. Long ago, in days now gone by forever.
But I remember those days, and I miss them. I miss loving my wee ones. I miss holding them. I miss taking care of them. I was blessed to be their Mama. I was blessed to take care of my babies, even when I was exhausted, even when I was sick or overwhelmed. The way I see it, we are blessed to be enabled by our Lord to serve these little ones who cannot serve themselves.
See, little ones have no way to make themselves comfortable. Babies can’t nurse themselves or comfort themselves when they are afraid. They can’t calm themselves down when they are way too tired and grumpy. There’s nothing they can do to make their own sticky hands clean, they can’t change their own clothes if they are too hot or uncomfortable. They cannot burp themselves. And, it goes without saying, there’s no way at all that they can change their own diapers. If these things are going to be done, they are going to be done by someone else.
Usually, by Mama.
This is a blessing. In the sweetest way possible we are getting to learn to be a servant just as our Lord was a Servant.
This is an amazingly beautiful thought! God lets us practice being a Servant and we are blessed to be able to enjoy it, too! And, don’t forget, when we do these things, we get to be rewarded by the sweetest smiles in the world, to boot!
Children are a blessing. God says so and its way past time that His people started embracing the blessing of children again.
Psalms 127: 3-5, Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Just think, Mama, when you are tired and have to get up…again…to nurse your little one or to clean his little bum, he won’t be your baby for long. One day, he’ll be sleeping through the night. One day, he won’t need you to change him or feed him. So, the next time your little one needs to be nursed, hold him really close, smell his sweetness, and drink in his sweet babyness. And the next time she needs a diaper change, smile, thank God for letting you practice servanthood and head for the baby wipes.
Somewhere there’s a Mama who didn’t want her baby and abandoned, aborted, or killed her.
Somewhere there’s a Mama who lost her little one to death.
Somewhere, there’s a lady who desperately wants to be a Mama…and can never be.
So, the next time your little one needs you, remember how blessed you really are. You have a baby that you get to serve. You are, by your example, through your songs, prayers, and teachings, teaching him moment by moment, day by day, about the supreme Servant. Let us give thanks to the Lord for that blessing and for that privilege.
Goodnight, ya’ll!
And, as always, Soli Deo Gloria!…in everything!
Anna
Photo by Zach Lucero on Unsplash
