Caring for Babes {In Christ}

During our date night, Daniel and I were deep in discussion about new converts -- babes in Christ. He mentioned how since becomming a Daddy, he'd realized how much love, effort, and time it takes to properly care for an infant and how we should apply the same rigor of newborn care to caring for new Christians. How true is that?! So, I started thinking ...

- Infants (especially newborns) need to be handled gently. Those floppy heads are enough to scare any new parent into being ultra careful! While I would never advocate for "sugar coating" of the Gospel, it is important to speak the truth in love (ie. carefully). I remember when Jenaleigh was first plopped onto my chest after she was born. I thought, "I don't want to break her! How do I hold her?!" We need to give an equal amount of care to every interaction we have with the babe in Christ; not holding back the truth, but being gentle, "as a nursing mother cherishes her own children" (1 Thessalonians 2:7).

"Carefully Handling my Newborn"

- Infants can't be left alone. I recently read a post on Babycenter.com about a grandmother wanting to leave a four month old alone in the parent's house (laying on the couch, nonetheless) while she walked a block to go pick up her other grandchild from school every afternoon. I was appalled! I would never leave my four month old alone in the house like that -- too many bad things can happen in just a matter of minutes! Similarlry, we can't leave our new converts alone. Do we baptize them Sunday night and say, "See you on Wednesday."? Do you realize that's quite a few days where they may have no contact with other Christians? In the early days of their Christianity, they need to be around Christian influences constantly! Too many bad things can happen when left alone to fend for themselves.

- Infants need to be comforted and cuddled when they're sick. Jenaleigh was having a major issue with constipation (TMI for some of you, I know!) today. I was doing many things to help her through it, but one of the greatest medicines I could provide, was cuddling and letting her know it would be okay. New Christians are going to meet speedbumps that cause them to question their newfound faith. We must be there to hold their hands, let them know what the Word says, put them back on track, and be a comfort!

- It may take awhile for your infant to be ready for solids, but some day they will be happily chowing down on table food. Some moms are so excited for their babies to start solids that the day their bambinos turn 4 months old, they're getting the rice cereal ready. Some babies happily except this new method of eating, while others may still have their tongue thrust reflex and push the cereal out of their mouths. If your baby rejects the rice cereal, do you throw your hands up in the air and say, "Oh well, I guess she'll just live on milk for the rest of her life!"? Um, NO! You just wait and offer it (or some other food) again when he/she is ready, right? If a New Christian doesn't quite "get" a "meaty" concept, don't think that the cause is lost and give up. Keep offering the meat, help them prepare themselves for solids, the meat that they will someday need to consume (Hebrews 5:12-14).

- Infants make messes and need to be cleaned up. In her short four months with us so far, Jenaleigh has probably taken more baths than I've had in a year! She makes quite the mess for a little bug and relies on her Mommy and Daddy to be there to help clean up the spit up or whatever else is expelled from her cute little body. Similarly, the new convert may wonder how to deal with a mess he or she made in their past. Paul wrote of the horrific things the Corinthian Christians had done in their pasts -- from being male prostitutes to drunkards -- but they were (with guidance and God's help, of course) able to overcome (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Let's help our new converts devise a game plan to make their past "wrongs" right and get their lives right!

Young People Today...

How many times have I heard someone start off a sentence with "Young people today..." and end with some discouraging complaint about the terrible way young people today act/think/feel?

It's easy to feel that each generation is getting worse and worse (although a study through the Bible should convince us that sin has been abundant through the ages). But, I wanted to share with you something that should make you hopeful for "young people today" -- for the future of the church.

Today as I was sifting through the mail, I saw an envelope addressed to me in careful handwriting. I quickly opened it as I LOVE letters and was immediately touched by what I found inside.

It was a note from a young lady (pre-teen age I think). We'll call her P. I've only met P a few times, but she's inspired me more than she'll ever know.

The letter started with congratulatory wishes but quickly transitioned to her thoughts on my Women's Wednesday articles over at Daniel's blog, "The Christian Practice". She wrote that one particular post -- ("At Least It's a One Piece") was particularly helpful to her. [The article discusses how although the world may see one piece bathing suits as a modest alternative to bikinis, we must search God's Word to realize what modesty truly is and why it is important to be such.]

P writes, "If you wouldn't wear a bathing suit to run in Wal-Mart; what's the difference if it's under water? A lot of times people just don't understand that it is inappropriate..."

Yes, that came from a young person! She gets it! She understands and treasures the value of what we read in 1 Timothy 2:9, 10 Titus 2:3-5. There is hope!

Thank you, P, for reminding me again of me of the importance of my duty to "teach what is good, 4and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." (Titus 2:4-5) And thank you for the hope that you've given me -- the hope that this generation is not lost and that the church can continue to thrive.

P, I hope that as I've been able to help you in a small way with my articles that you will in turn take what you know and teach it to others, especially your peers and those younger than you! I know you have it in you and can imagine my daughter some day looking up to you for Godly advice and example. 

For everyone else out there... give young people a chance. Don't expect failure. Expect greatness.

What Do I Miss? Day 19 of Hospital 'Bedrest'

I saw a status on Facebook this afternoon that put a huge smile on my face... 

It was from a lovely Christian lady who's expecting (due just a week after us). She was on bedrest for quite a bit longer than me (7 weeks) and was given the "all clear" a few days ago to graduate from bedrest. Her status today was about how great it was to be able to attend worship services on a Sunday morning after not being able to for so long! 

How wonderful it must have been for her to be able to physically be in the midst of all the saints that she had missed worshiping with for so long?!

What about you? If you were confined to a bed or to a hospital, what would you miss the most? Me? I miss my wonderful bed at home; but more importantly I miss attending worship services with the Christians that meet at the Hardin church of Christ.  I hope to see you all soon!

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I have no developments for you on the pregnancy front today (or for the past few days). Dr. P gets back from his vacation today, so hopefully he won't find any reason to keep me here for longer than Wednesday! Only a few more days!

Tracy, the night nurse just came in. She was here with me on my 3rd and 4th nights in the hospital and witnessed my tears over the pain of the penicillin drip they were giving me (every four hours!) She even slowed the drip down, but it still hurt like nothing else! Thankfully Dr. P gave the go ahead to take out my saline lock on day 4; but, I'll never forget the feeling of those meds making my veins weaker and weaker!

Anyway, when Tracy walked into the room tonight she asked if I remembered her (of course!) and we reminisced about that lovely penicillin. I so appreciate how sweet she was when I was in such pain. I love great nurses! :-)

I'm Praying for a Special Couple

I'm sure most of you, like me, pray daily for your baby -- whether that baby is still in the womb or in your arms. There are any things I pray when praying for her -- I pray that she will grow to love the Lord will all her heart; I pray that we as parents will teach her God's ways and model to her the Christian life; I pray for her health; I pray for her future husband; but there are also two more important people I mention when praying for her...

her future husband's mom and dad.

Now before you raise an eyebrow and say, "But what if she doesn't want to get married? Aren't placing your assumptions in the way?", know that I am adding an important phrase -- "if it be Your [God's] will" -- just as Jesus prayed in Matthew 26:39 for God's will to be done.

Anyway, back to the praying for Jen's future hubby's mom and dad... I pray that this couple is making the necessary preparations to raise their son to...

1. ...be a Christian who will help my daughter reach heaven someday.

2. ...be a loving husband who my daughter will gladly let lead her. [Eph 5:25 and 1 Cor 11:3]

3. ...be an authoritative, yet gentle father who will bring up children God's way. [Eph 6:4]

I sometimes try to imagine this couple - my future son-in-law's parents. Are they someone we know? Is he a preacher? Is she a Bible class teacher? Have we brushed shoulders at Polishing the Pulpit but never met? Someday we will know the answers to these questions, but for now prayer will be all sufficient.

You Put Flowers WHERE?

Mom came into the hospital room with bags full of goodies for me, including some BEAUTIFUL flowers! I love flowers, don't you? They just brighten up my day!

Well, after about an hour of having these flowers on the cabinet next to the bed, I couldn't take it anymore. The constant heavy fragrance was killing my already pounding head. So, reluctantly, we banished them to the bathroom...

I almost felt sorry for those poor little flowers destined to spend their lives in an undesirable place. But, after several bathroom trips (remember, a pregnant woman's bladder is almost never empty), I realized how GOOD they made the bathroom smell. By putting something pretty in an otherwise grim place, the whole room was transformed.

Likewise, we as Christians, should not be afraid to place our "pretty" (spiritually speaking) selves amongst the more "grim" (again, spiritually speaking). A flower in the bathroom can cause change (of atmosphere, of smells, of visual pleasingness) and be a blessing wherever it goes -- a Christian in the life of a non-Christian can cause change (in their lives, in their hearts, in their relationship with Him) and be a blessing to whomever he/she comes into contact with. 

I'm not saying we should begin to frequent bars or clubs. No! Lost people are all around us! Are you seeking them out to share with them the gospel and therefore be a blessing in their lives? Or do you think you're too pretty to associate with those sinners?

Our Savior came "to seek and to save that which was lost” [Luke 19:10] and wasn't afraid to minister to even the most grim - for example the cheating tax collectors [Mark 2:15].

As followers of Him, we must do the same... "He who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk just as He walked." [1 John 2:6]

• At work. Build relationships with co-workers who aren't Christians. Or, if you stay at home, don't be afraid to invite your husbands' co-workers over for dinner. Using our abilities to be hospitable is a way to influence others unlike any other. And, hospitality is not just a suggestion, but rather is commanded of us as Christians. 

"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality." [Romans 12:10-13]

• In the community. Are you a part of a club or group? What about a frequent visitor to a library or do you always have the same waitress at a restaurant? Build relationships here! However, if you find yourself not seeing the same people week in and week out, consider carrying an evangelism bag with you. Keep the bag stocked with the latest gospel meeting fliers, business cards, or info about general goings at at your local congregation. You may also want to carry around DVDs such as Searching for the Truth. Once you have your evangelism bag stocked, make it your goal to pass out materials to someone each and every time you enter a public place.

• At assemblies of the saints. Wait a second... why do you need to be trying to convert souls while you're "at church"? That seems silly at first, doesn't it? Well, it's not! There are plenty of spouses of Christians, teens who may be uncertain, and visitors from the community who frequently attend worship services and Bible studies, but who have not obeyed the Gospel. Seek those people out to build relationships with them and bring your flowery influence into their grim lives!

Remember the words of Christ... 'He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick."' [Matthew 9:12]

(NOTE: If you enjoyed this post, you may want to check out Daniel's blog, "The Christian Practice" where I'm a guest writer every Wednesday.)