A Day for Baby
It is a snuggling sort of day, a day for babies, babies of all kinds. Baby birds and rabbits are sweet but none as dear as this human baby snuggled in close to my heart. Victorious Man of God will be five months old tomorrow. Five months! How long, and short, those five months have seemed. To think that one year ago he was growing in my womb, and I didn't even know. All the summer long this sweet Man of God was growing and developing yet it wasn't until the summer had past and fall almost gone that his mama knew he was there. Such a miracle he is this darling bundle of wiggles and smiles.
He was born screaming mad. That scream escapes his lips some days still. Following six other children, all but two of them mostly grown, one would think Victorious Man wouldn't have anything unpleasant to scream about. As young as he is, there are moments when his world isn't just exactly as he would like it. It is at those times I remember the chewing out that rang throughout the delivery room upon his arrival. I laughed with gladness that he was healthy enough to scream then. Those screams don't bring such joy now. No, these days mama finds herself praying with fervor for her Victorious Man of God to have peace, calm, and quiet strength. Dear God, may he possess Your understanding instead of frustration. May he desire Your will and not his own.
Yes indeed, this child's coming has brought change to Abundance House. Because his coming was discovered so far into pregnancy, there wasn't time to work through surprises gradually. We had work to do. There was a baby coming. Truly? A baby? Can it really be? Is it true Father? Do You truly have another reward for me to hold? Another wee miracle to love and kiss? Truly? For reals? Mine? Another sweet baby? The news of babies number five and six found me shocked. Baby number seven? There really wasn't time to be anything. Ready or not this sweet boy was coming, and come he did.
This dear man child has been a surprise from the beginning, a surprise and the first. Victorious Man may be on the tail end of seven children, but he is a first in so very many ways. The first child of seven to break his mother's water at home naturally, the first to scream in rage when born, the first to snuggle in and cuddle, the first to like mobiles, contrasting colors, and other typical baby things. Successfully wearing cloth diapers hasn't been experienced by any of his siblings. Neither have the previous two slept in a traditional crib. They slept by mama's bed in a play 'n pak yet none of them slept the whole night through by four months as this one has. He is also the first to experience the bliss of being worn close to his mama's heart in a baby wrap.
There are some things however he will never know. It is indeed a fact this boy will never experience what his oldest four siblings have. Multiple moves, various school experiences, none of those adventures will he live. He will never know the youthfulness of parents who are in their 20s, nor 30s. Thankfully, he won't have to experience the same mistakes of our youthful ignorance either. Neither will he understand the bond being born only two years apart creates between brothers and sisters.
Unlike Giggles and Mighty Man born so close together, Victorious Man stands alone. He alone will be at home when the others have left the proverbial nest.
This is the man who will know his parents best when they are mature, at least I hope we are maturing. It is this man who I pray benefits from the parenting experience My Beloved and I have gained throughout the past 21+ years. Already it is he who makes us laugh on those days we want to cry. And the snuggles, oh those dear sweet snuggles, how they heal. And mama can't forget the smiles. Those smiles. Those ear to ear grins accompanied by entire body wiggles, those make the very hardest times bearable. Yes, God knew. He knew. We need this man baby. We need him so very much. When an oldest son struggles to be his own man and forgets to speak soft, there is a baby to cuddle away the hurt. The stinging sarcasm and moods of teenage daughters drip away on the sloppy kiss that tries to suck the chin off of this mama's face. And an entire house of hot, tired big people housing muscles tight with stress relax into contented harmony when baby's giggles rise to the rafters. Four-year-olds and six-year-olds too revel in the role of being big enough to take care of instead of being cared for. Baby was needed by all.
I read in the Bible of a God who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all I can ask, think, dream, or even imagine (Eph. 3:20), and I know it is true. Not only is God able to do this. He does it. The babe sleeping on my heart is living proof. Exceeding abundantly above all I can ask, think, dream, or even imagine, that's Victorious Man of God. There was another verse I read that said God's ways are not mine. They are higher (Isaiah 55:9). That too is true. Victorious Man proves it is so. Every day I marvel with wonder that there is another baby for My Beloved and I to love for God. I was thinking future grandchildren someday not children of my own. This was God's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes (Psalm 118:23). For this I am glad, exceedingly glad. I wouldn't have begun to think of this, but I'm glad He did. I'm glad God knows and that He is good, ALL of the time. Victorious Man of God proves that too.
Well, baby is waking. He's ready to eat. We're going to go spend time getting to know each other some more. It's our favorite time during each day this time Victorious spends nursing. I am so glad it comes often. He looks straight into my heart with those intensely blue eyes of his never blinking or wavering. Straight inside me his gaze penetrates to my very core. When I look back into his eyes I see that he knows. He knows mama wasn't completely sure she was ready to be a 40+ year-old mama. He also knows that ready or not his mama loves him. He knows too of his destiny. He, as are we all, is created by God to do something no one else on earth can do. There is a knowing and understanding in this little man, an intensity that will bring victory by tearing out and uprooting. His name says it all.
While Victorious and I sway in the rocker speaking with our eyes and smiles, know we are praying too. We are praying for each of you. You are loved. You were created by God to do and be something no one else on earth could ever be or do. You have a destiny. Will you, like Victorious Man of God, snuggle in with God, look Him straight in His eye, and know His love for you, feel the warmth of His smile? Will you? In His name we pray that you do. Amen. May it be so.
