Gummin' It Will Never Do

My baby has been cutting more teeth. It's not very fun for her...or her momma. Cranky little toot. No appetite. Doesn't sleep well. Rubs her ears and sometimes even cries when she eats. Oh, it makes me sad for her. But, the poor darlin' has to go through it in order to get the teeth. They cut through her little pink gums with no regard to the fact that hey!, this is a baby here. She can't even talk to tell me what hurts or how to fix it. Her gums swell a little and then begin to whiten right where the little booger is going to cut through.

I guess the worst part is knowing she's in pain without being able to actually see the tooth yet. It's her pain. It's deep and she is the only one who can go through it.

What bothers me more than that, is there will come a day in all three of my little girl's lives where I'll watch them walk through life-pain. Once again I'll see life hurt them from the inside and I won't be able to fix it with Ibuprofen or Boo-boo Bunnies. Their pain will have to make it's way to the surface just like everyone else. They might cry and tell me where it hurts by then, but I still won't be able to take it for them. Their little souls will whiten from the pressure and maybe even bleed. They'll be wounded.

However, (and there is always a 'however') by the power of the Spirit in them, they will have strength in their bodies soon after to be able to chew and swallow the bigger painful morsels of life. They will have strength to know what will be sweet to their spirit's and what will need to be spat out in order to live a life worthy of the calling. Their pain will be theirs, yes, but I would never take it from them. Their pain is His for the making, molding, growing, and most of all, healing.

Don't get me wrong. If there was Life-Ibuprofen, I'd give it to them, but we all know that medicine simply masks the pain. The growing and changing and stretching of soul and mind will inevitably come through. And on top of that, it's not my job. Only the Prince of Peace can give them what they need. Only the King of Glory can change them from glory to glory. Only the Counselor can give them the real life-changing truth.

So what is my job? What it's always been meant to be: I love them with my whole heart, bend over, kiss their face, then lift my arm and point... to Him.

I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old--what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. Psalm 78:2-4, 7

In Him,
Natalie


Natalie writes for many reasons: life, laughter and most of all, love. Join her at her blogs!



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