Here is yet another baby-themed 7QT. Having a baby in the house is not only a huge adjustment, but it's also taught me some spiritual lessons. Who knew? Little Leo is only 4 weeks old and he's already teaching me things.
1) Oh boy, I'm a selfish person. This being our first child, it's a tough realization that our time is no longer our own. When I'd rather do this, or that, or get something done... I only can if the baby's not being fussy, if my wife doesn't need a hand, etc. It's an easy thing to say, that we have a put others before ourselves. It's far more difficult to do on a daily basis. Quite the learning process!
2) I've seen some analogies, too. First, poo = sin. This fits in terms of scale: sharts vs. normal diapers vs. how did that much come out of such a little body? There is also a scale of sin (cf. 1 John 5:17), and things that are easy to clean up/difficult to clean up.
3) Many of us would just as soon sit in our sin/poo than get cleaned up in confession. For the most part, Leo hates getting his diaper changed. Granted, he's focused on the discomfort of it, and reason doesn't enter into it. For adults, there are sins that we like, or behaviors we're not willing to change. If I left Leo in a dirty diaper and never changed it, he'd develop a rash and other worse things. Sin works the same way, if we stay in our figurative dirty diapers:
"Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death." -James 1:14-15
4) Another analogy: we're the infants, God is the Dad. We're completely dependent on God--and just as Leo doesn't have a full idea of how much he needs my wife and I, neither do we fully grasp how much we need God.
5) Our family and friends have been incredibly generous to us. My wife received many gifts at her baby shower, including a number of hand-made things. My mom knitted a hat and some booties, and two of her aunts sewed blankets. I really felt loved and embraced by both our families and the community. I also had coworkers who gave me baby gifts--ones who I don't even work with on a regular basis. How humbling it is to be the recipient of such overwhelming generosity!
6) Watching Leo and how he acts when he wants something... does our habit of fit throwing change that much as we grow older? We react differently than an infant (in most cases), naturally. I notice it at work... when a coworker does this, when a boss won't let us do that, it can really get on my nerves and get me into a fit. Sure, I don't wail and cry. Do I always handle it as a mature adult? I tell other people how injustly I was treated, with the hope that they'll get irritated and hold a grudge against that person. p.s. I'm not looking forward to Leo turning 2.
7) Prioritization is really key. I'm amazed at the time that we can waste--though not like I've never done that before. When we've been up with the baby all night, it feels like we only have the energy to watch TV or surf the internet. That's fine to a certain extent. Laundry and dishes are ever present, though, as are the usual household chores. I've found that I have to take advantage of Leo's naps to get things done rather than relax. I'm not good at taking advantage of that time, but I know I have to. :)
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