I am With Child.

Now before anyone gets too excited about my title line, I better explain myself. I think the Bible was first in using the term being "with child" to describe a pregnant woman. In the NIV version of the Bible, it first uses the term in Genesis and uses it seven more times throughout the Bible to describe pregnant women.



But anyone with preschoolers knows that you are more WITH child after they are born. In the grocery store, I am with child. In the bathroom, I am with child. And even in the middle of the night, I often wake up with child...child wanting water, child needing the bathroom or child to be tucked in.



So today I thought I'd share some of the fun and funny moments of being with child - a 4 year old child.



Friday at the grocery store she saw these tiny bananas. She exclaimed "Look at these baby bananas. They must have just been born." Ironically, when I looked for the tag to tell you what they are called, they were indeed labeled Baby Bananas, but they are also called oritos.

A few aisles later, I was checking out the canned goods, with my eyes off of her for no more than 3 seconds, when I hear a loud crash of breaking glass. There she stands in front of the biggest glass jar of applesauce they make, which is shattered on the floor.


"I didn't mean to do that." she calmed stated. I simply found one of the cashiers, and I kid you not, I looked him right in the eye and said "clean up on aisle 3." He saw that I was "with child" and just turned on his microphone and announced "Clean up on aisle 3!" (I did apologize as well).

Here are some other funny quotes and mis-quotes that come from being with child:




When I told her to behave she answered "I am being hav."



Singing: "Who built the ark? No-one No-one" (the actual lyric is of course: Noah, Noah)



"I obey myself." - She just piped up with this one from the backseat one day when we were driving down the road.






"I have a little dog barking in my heart." This is another original thought she just piped out with. I have no idea why. She then said "I like little dogs."



But my favorite quote was when we were driving home from preschool one day and say said to me, "Mama, Jesus came into my room last night." I responded "He did?!" and she said "yes, and he stayed with me all night so I wouldn't be afraid of the dark."

I believe Jesus did just that. Matthew 11:25 says "At that time Jesus said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.' " Jesus speaks of having to be like children to get into heaven, and not hindering children from him. I believe on that night he gave comfort to my little girl.

It is never a dull moment, when you are "with child." I often think I am learning as much from her, as she is from me. But, I'm still not sure about that little dog barking in her heart.

**Today's post is a re-run from April 2008, as I am busy enjoying the last week of summer with my family. That little 4 year old is entering 1st grade next week. Thanks for understanding.**

I Want You To Want Me

“I want you to want me. I need you to need me. I’d love you to love me.”
I Want You To Want Me, Cheap Trick, 1977

We all have the desire to be wanted, needed and loved. It's human nature. Yet, as humans we are created in the image of God. The image of a God who wants us to want Him, Who needs us to need Him, And Who'd love us to love Him.

But God is a God of freedom, He is a God of free will. So while He wants us to want Him, He doesn't require it of us. He allows us to choose if we want to love Him.

God told Adam & Eve not to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, but He allowed them the free will to make their own decision. Jesus said, "IF you love me, keep my commands." (John 14:15) He allows us to choose. Joshua told his people, "choose for yourselves whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:15)

I can't imagine the God of the Universe, who is mighty and powerful, all-knowing and all controlling allowing ME to make such a huge decision! Me?!? I can't even decide what to make for dinner most of the time! Yet God loves me so much that he doesn't want to drag me into a relationship with Him, but instead He wants me to want Him. And He wants you to want Him too.

Musical Musings:
1. Do you believe in free will? Why or why not?
2. Have you made a conscience decision to love God, and because of that decision do you obey Him?
3. How do you show God you love Him in your daily life? Can others tell you love God by your actions?

Karaoke:
God, thank you for wanting me! I've done nothing to be called your child, yet all you ask is that I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in my heart that you raised him from the dead, and I will be saved. Thank you God! Thank you for wanting me and loving me. Help me to love you, serve you, and obey you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Rock On:
Joshua 24:15 says, "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Think about ways your household is serving the Lord. If there are no apparent ways, why not start serving more today.