It’s been said that “your world changes when you have kids” and this year, my wife and I had the distinct privileged of learning this deep truth with the arrival of our son. Beaming smiles brightening the room, midnight diaper changes and feedings. Resounding squeals and shrieks, uncertain if they are indicative of playful laughter or being on the verge of tears. Moreover, during this time, my prayer life has deepened while experiencing the reality of having a childlike dependence upon our Lord.
From his conception, our son has been utterly dependent upon my wife and me. My wife’s body nourished him in the womb. We got him to the hospital to be born. We feed him and change his diapers. We clothe him with increasingly larger [and cuter] onesies to keep him warm. He is dependent on us to ensure that his genuine needs are provided for and we protect him from inappropriate wants. To the latter point, there was moment I will always cherish: our son found a “treasure” on the ground and speedily brought it to his gaping mouth. Fortunately, I stopped his hand and removed the object before it could reach its intended destination. Almost instantly, tears welled up and our son began crying bloody murder. It didn’t matter that the “treasure” wouldn’t have been good for him – it was his treasure.
This experience continues to stick with me as there have been many moments when I felt the Lord was denying me “my treasure.” In hindsight, I can see the Lord had replaced “my treasure” with a true treasure. But in the moment, I felt that Lord was cruelly dangling my deepest desire out of reach instead of realizing He was trying to teach me something about myself and Himself: that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28) A “no” might just mean, “not yet” or perhaps it means “I have something better for you,” or perhaps something else entirely. Regardless, just like my son is called to trust me and my wife, we are all called to embrace a childlike dependence upon our Lord “from whom all blessings flow.” And in doing so, we are transformed as true Children of God.