Throughout the last couple of months, I've spent moments on a daily basis simply sitting in awe of how quickly time is passing. Cale amazes me each day with his ability to walk, climb, talk, and discover the world around him. He continually teaches himself how to do new things; some of those things are beneficial, and some of them are dangerous. I feel as though I spend my days constantly watching him to protect him from danger, but also trying to allow him the space to explore and grow and learn for himself.
As many have said before me, I certainly have a greater understanding of my Father's love due to this little blessing of a wild man who walks (and bounds!) around our home each day. It's not just love of which I have a deeper understanding, however. Everything in life is different now. I don't mean the fact that our social life has drastically changed or that taking a long drive is no longer as appealing or any of the other myriad of ways that our physical life has changed. God has simply literally changed my perspective on who He created us to be.
Every moment of our lives is planned with purpose. And guess what? That purpose is not all about us! I love the book of Jeremiah, and I often find myself identifying with his story and with his struggles. Yet, I am often frustrated by the misuse of Jeremiah 29:11. To understand Scripture, we must always (ALWAYS) read it in context. Throughout the book of Jeremiah, we see the familiar story of the Israelites and their disobedience to the Lord. God longs for them to turn back to Him, but year after year and generation after generation, they refuse. So, through Jeremiah, God communicates to them some of the disasters that are coming. He uses those disasters to turn their hearts back to Him.
Chapter 29 describes how God will bring them back from captivity because HE knows the plans He has for them, and those plans are for good! Yet, He still allowed them to be taken captive! We cannot miss that critical point. God allows us to suffer, to hurt, to be challenged so that we can understand His great love for us and His desire to see us grow.
Sure, the following message wouldn't be as appealing (on say, a graduation frame): " 'I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you.' But I'll still let you be taken captive first so that you'll understand who I really am and who I really desire for you to be!" Can you imagine receiving that on a coffee mug? It's not such a pleasant notion, and yet it is absolutely truth. Does that make God mean? Absolutely not. It's simply a more complete picture of His love for us. He gives us freedom to make our own choices, to explore, to learn our way in the world. Yet, He is continually there offering guidance, wisdom, and protection. He's continually offering us the choice to lay down our desires and follow Him.
The cool thing about Cale is that he's still young enough to want to be with Mommy. If I walk into the next room and say, "Cale! Follow me!" he excitedly follows me wherever I go. That's not always going to be the case, I know, but I do pray that as he grows we will be able to instill in him the desire to follow the One who's really worth following. We read Scripture with Cale every night, and God uses that precious little boy to remind me that yes, this is all with purpose. The days aren't always easy or fun, but every moment counts for eternity. I can't let these moments slip by without making sure that I am being sensitive and obedient to the One who created them. I can't manipulate Scripture to make it all about me, and I can't be deceived by the world's ideals of comfort and mediocrity. God has abundantly more for me than comfort or mediocrity. He's offering Life. Not just breath in the morning and the ability to climb out of bed, but actual Life; He sustains me, He fills me with joy, He satisfies my every need. And so, as the days continue to fly by, I pray that I'll live in such a way that the moments really do matter- not for my glory or the furtherance of my materialism, but for His glory and the furtherance of His kingdom.
Blessed. We are so blessed.
