In just a few short weeks, we will be welcoming another grandson
into our family. I think it is so
exciting when the time remaining is finally just weeks instead of months!
Things will change in our daughter and son-in-law’s home. Twenty-two-month old Elias will no longer be
the center of attention. The limelight
will now have to be shared with this brand new wiggly, sometimes crying
precious little one. Up until now, he
has only known this baby as being in his mommy’s tummy and now will have to
adjust to his brother being visible and sometimes noisy and maybe at times
annoying.
Of course things will change for Elias’ parents too. While they already know that taking care of a
young one who is nearing two is exhausting, they will now discover a new level
of fatigue when they add a baby who will be entirely dependent on them. Feedings throughout the night will return and
lack of sleep will most likely become the norm for a time. Not only will they be helping their new
little one adjust to living in his new surroundings; they will have a
two-year-old asking questions at every turn.
The word I think of when I think of what they all are facing is
“change”. Lots of changes are on their
horizon and there is no way they can know or even understand those changes
until they are in the middle of them.
They can be told over and over again by those who have been through it
what it will be like, but until they experience it for themselves…it is almost
impossible for them to understand. They
can read every book ever written about how to handle multiple children, but
until they actually have two children in their home they can’t truly know what
it will be like.
The reason is that no two children are alike and so what happens
with someone else’s children may never happen to theirs. They will more than likely discover that what
works in someone else’s home as far as juggling their new schedule, may not
work at all in their home. They will
have to experience it themselves and figure out what is the best for their
family. Instead of trying to measure up
to what others tell them is the right way, they will just need to keep their
focus on Christ each and every day and allow Him to lead them as they raise
their family for Him.
The same is true in our Christian family too. No two of us are the same and so what happens
in my life…may not ever happen in your life.
What works for me in my walk with Christ, may not work at all for
you. Likewise (and this may make some of
you squirm), what Christ convicts me of that needs changing in my life, may not
be something of which He convicts you…and vice versa. Each of us are at a different stage in our
Christian walk and as a result, He will mold us and shape us to look more like
Him at the time that is perfect for us individually.
Unless we have walked in the shoes of others…there is a good
chance that we can’t understand exactly what they are going through. We can sympathize, console and pray for them
and even share with them what has helped us.
But at some point, they will need to face their own changes and learn to
rely on Christ’s leading in their particular situation.
I wonder how many people we have hurt or scared away from
walking with Christ because we imposed our way of doing things on them. Instead of pointing them towards Christ and
loving them through their journey, we’ve demanded that they do it our way, when
our way may not be what is best for them.
Unfortunately, our way isn’t always Christ’s way and imposing our
thoughts on them can do more harm than good.
It is so important that anything we share is based on Biblical
principles as we come alongside those who need to know that we care. I think that so often, others will be helped
much more if they can see Christ in us on a daily basis. How we act and react will speak much louder
than what actually comes out of our mouth.
Just as it is not my responsibility to demand that my daughter’s
family do things exactly like I would, it is not my responsibility to do the
convicting in other people’s lives.
Again, I can share Biblical principles, sympathize, console and pray
with those I come in contact with, but it is Christ’s responsibility to do the
convicting. My job is to be willing to
walk with those who are hurting, loving them where they are today and making
sure that it is evident that Christ lives in me. I am confident that if we do this as we focus
on pointing others towards Christ, our actions will speak much louder than our
words.
“So
why do you condemn another believer?
Why
do you look down on another believer?
Remember,
we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
For
the Scriptures say,
‘As
surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every
knee will bend to me,
and
every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’
Yes,
each of us will give a personal account to God.
So
let’s stop condemning each other.
Decide
instead to live in such a way that you will not
cause another believer to stumble and fall.”
Romans 14:10-13
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