The Pregnancy – even while our baby is in the womb, we begin to form a bond with our unborn child. We do everything we can to keep them healthy and growing strongly. This reminds us of how intimately our God knows us.
The Delivery – remember how we endure the great pain and labor to see our child face-to-face. The same is true with our Abba Father who endured the great pain of seeing His One and Only Son, Jesus, on the cross of Calvary so that we will one day be able to live with Him face-to-face. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
The Nurturing – remember feeding our baby? Cradling them, rocking them, looking into their eyes, and telling them of our unconditional love? It reminds us of God feeding us with His Word! We can easily picture our Heavenly Father cradling us, providing everything we could ever need, all the while we look to Him with complete love.
Raising and Guiding – we set boundaries for our children. Rules and expectations are put into place. The difference between what’s right and wrong is taught. We do this to keep our children safe, only wanting what’s best for them. Do they understand right away? No. Is that okay with us? Yes. One day, we know (as it did for us when we became parents) it will become clear just how much parents love their children. So it is with God. We might not be able to fathom His ways, but He is trustworthy, and one day, we will understand it by and by.
Instructing – we pour our time, talents, and love of education into our children. We spend thousands of “extra” hours pouring into our children. We encourage, inspire, wean, equip, and cheer our children on as they grow in maturity and responsibility, learning to not lean upon us but stand firm on their own two feet. This reminds us of the process of growth and instruction in our relationship with God.
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” 1 Corinthians 13:11-14
All Grown Up – no matter how big our child is, he/she will always be our baby. We will always love them with all of our hearts. Here again, we see a reflection of God’s love. He loves YOU deeply and continually thinks of you. “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3
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