M. J. Helianth - We Are God's Children: A Reflection on the First Few Weeks of Parenthood

Being a new parent is rough. Sleepless nights, constant crying, feeling very unsure of yourself, and all the while trying to learn how to care for another living person. A tiny person, who cannot communicate exactly what they need, nor can they understand you when you plead with them to just give you a moment as you prepare a bottle to quell their hunger.

Many thoughts have run through my mind over this past month. Mainly “how am I ever going to get through this?” Luckily, my husband and I have had a few short conversations that have opened our eyes to some sobering realities. Those being that we are God’s children, and He sees us just as we see our child.

"He won't latch," I sigh to my husband. "I just don't understand. It's right in front of him."

"I know, we're giving him everything he needs, but he refuses to accept it," he commiserates.

This must be how God sees us. Giving us all the love and grace we could ever need just to be spurned. Laying His plan out before us only for us to bemoan the labors we must face. Fortunately for us, in His perfection, He is infinitely more patient than we could ever hope to be.

"Why are his eyes so glassy?"

"Babies sight after birth is, like, 20/400. He can't see much of anything right now unless it's right in front of him."

Fortunately, our son’s vision will grow clearer over time. Spiritually, how limited is our own sight? Isn't it sometimes hard for us to see the good things God has placed in our lives? Through our trials and spiritual growth, our vision and realization of such things grows; we are humbled and become much more grateful for every little thing we have come to possess. Even a newborn who will cry if you dare to put them down.

"I'm so tired."

"My back hurts."

"I just want a moment to myself."

Temporary suffering, such as what we have been experiencing as new parents, is always paving the way towards our own salvation and is for our own benefit. These complaints should be caught up in our throats and reshaped into prayers. As it is said time and time again, our prayers ought to be unceasing. What a perfect opportunity to practice!

Not only can these trials aid us in our prayer life, but they also grant us practice in humility and sacrifice.

"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls;" - II Corinthians 12:15

We prayed dearly for our child, offering ourselves as obedient servants to God and diligent parents to our son. Why would we not want to, as Paul says, want to spend and be spent for the sake of our child's salvation? There is no nobler and no more important sacrifice than to put one's self second to their child.

“Buddy, you have to be patient,” I remind him, while fixing a bottle. I say it more for my sake than for his. Patience is a difficult virtue to master.

It makes sense for a hungry infant to “demand” to be fed. It makes much less sense for adults, such as myself, to demand more trivial things than this. Yes, we want to know if that new job will pan out, or if we should sell our houses in the midst of the real estate boom. However, what does it benefit our souls to worry about things that God has already laid out in His own time?

“If he’s crying, at least that means he’s alive.”

Waking up in the middle of the night to a crying child is a struggle, but it merely means that he is healthy, albeit struggling with hunger or discomfort. And what a blessing that is!

Likewise, the fact that we are struggling means we are alive and well spiritually. The Lord would not put us through trials if He were not attempting to draw us nearer to Him. Therefore, despite the hardships we face, we should be thankful to know that we are spiritually healthy and that our dear Father is calling us closer. Not only so that we may know Him, but also catch a glimpse of His thoughts as he attempts to care for us, His children.

"It's the way God intended; our son needs us just like we need God.”