How do I possibly describe this last month of our lives?
In an instant on August 25th, everything changed. We went from Kristin and Joselo to Mom and Dad, and we are just beginning to wrap our minds around what this really means.
We've been in parent boot camp this month - changing diapers, giving baths, rocking, burping and feeding, feeding, feeding. We are learning! We are getting to know Elliot and how to care for him, and we are getting to know a little more about ourselves and each other in the process.
It’s incredible to look into Elliot's face and know that he is ours, and that we will spend the rest of our lives loving, teaching, serving, caring for, praying for and hoping the very best for this little person.
It’s also amazing to see ourselves in him - his eyes, nose, lips, etc.,
and at the same time know that he is developing his own unique personality.
I can’t help but wonder about his future - when he will talk and walk laugh and play, what his first words will be, what his voice will sound like, the talents and interests he will have, how he will interact with others and the influence he will have in this world.
I’m excited to watch Elliot grow and see how God will continue to glorify himself in Elliot’s life.
Sometimes I have to slow down and remind myself that time is going to fly and that today is a special gift. Give Elliot a few extra kisses, enjoy his whimpers, grunts and coos, snuggle a few more minutes and try to etch his sweet baby face into my mind. I just don't want to forget or waste this special time.
It's unbelievable how proud I can be of Elliot when all he has done is eat, sleep, poop and cry!
This reminds me of something I heard a few years ago from Pastor Mike Binder. Pastor Mike was talking about Jesus’ baptism and the words God spoke from heaven about his Son. God said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased"(Matthew 3:17).
Pastor Mike Binder pointed out that God was saying this about Jesus before Jesus started his ministry here on earth – before any miracles, before his incredible teaching or preaching, before giving his life for us by dying on the cross. God loved Jesus and was pleased with him just because Jesus is his son.
In the same way, God loves you and me and is pleased with us not because of anything incredible we’ve done for Him or for the bad stuff we've managed to avoid. God loves us just because He created us, and we are his.
It’s incredible to look into Elliot's face and know that he is ours, and that we will spend the rest of our lives loving, teaching, serving, caring for, praying for and hoping the very best for this little person.
It’s also amazing to see ourselves in him - his eyes, nose, lips, etc.,
and at the same time know that he is developing his own unique personality.
I can’t help but wonder about his future - when he will talk and walk laugh and play, what his first words will be, what his voice will sound like, the talents and interests he will have, how he will interact with others and the influence he will have in this world.
I’m excited to watch Elliot grow and see how God will continue to glorify himself in Elliot’s life.
Sometimes I have to slow down and remind myself that time is going to fly and that today is a special gift. Give Elliot a few extra kisses, enjoy his whimpers, grunts and coos, snuggle a few more minutes and try to etch his sweet baby face into my mind. I just don't want to forget or waste this special time.
It's unbelievable how proud I can be of Elliot when all he has done is eat, sleep, poop and cry!
This reminds me of something I heard a few years ago from Pastor Mike Binder. Pastor Mike was talking about Jesus’ baptism and the words God spoke from heaven about his Son. God said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased"(Matthew 3:17).
Pastor Mike Binder pointed out that God was saying this about Jesus before Jesus started his ministry here on earth – before any miracles, before his incredible teaching or preaching, before giving his life for us by dying on the cross. God loved Jesus and was pleased with him just because Jesus is his son.
In the same way, God loves you and me and is pleased with us not because of anything incredible we’ve done for Him or for the bad stuff we've managed to avoid. God loves us just because He created us, and we are his.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!"
(1 John 3:1a)
It's amazing, refreshing and freeing to rest in this simple truth, isn't it? When the pressures and responsibilities of life, work and relationships are overwhelming, we can rest in our Father's perfect love. We can find peace knowing that we don't have to perform and work so hard to please Him. He already loves us and nothing we do or don't do is going to change that.
It's a simple truth that often gets so lost in religion and man-made rules. God says, "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.' (Ephesians 2:10-11)
Understanding and believing in God's unconditional love is the foundation of our faith. His love is simple -- it's perfect, but it's not always easy to receive and believe. We have to let go of our pride, let go of our accomplishments, let go of what we know, of our strength, power and control.
We have to become like children, take off the masks we are wearing, set down the loads we are carrying, be vulnerable, be dependent and believe that we are lovable just as we are, apart from our achievements and accomplishments -- like Jesus, like Elliot. We are loved just because we are God's children.
We have to become like children, take off the masks we are wearing, set down the loads we are carrying, be vulnerable, be dependent and believe that we are lovable just as we are, apart from our achievements and accomplishments -- like Jesus, like Elliot. We are loved just because we are God's children.
"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you maybe filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17b-19)
