Child of God

I’m not one to gush. I thought babies were cute… from a distance (and the farther the better.) I thought cartoons were mind numbing. Kid songs were the ultimate punishment. Then my sister had three kids. I gushed. I memorized the television schedule on the Disney Channel and Nick Jr. I danced to kid music like I had never danced before. A sickening and beautiful transformation took place in me and through that experience, God has opened my eyes.

When I looked at those amazing people who walked like they had a pillow between their legs, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with joy. When they first learned to walk, I wanted to share their tentative steps with the world like they were the first children to make these colossal strides. Their giggles and yelps of delight were (and are) the most musical and carefree sounds. And that’s how God thinks of you and me.

I’ve heard probably a million times that I am a child of God; that God is a loving father. To any Christian this common knowledge is just like knowing that gravity exists or that water is made up of H20. Sometimes when we look at the most common, basic things, it’s there that we find the most amazing.

When I take my first steps at a new job, God is cheering me on. When I get a part in the church play, God is the proud father in the audience who whispers “That’s my kid.” When I stumble and scrape my ego, He picks me up, brushes off the shame, and holds my hand as we continue the journey.

Being a child of God, I am also realizing that it’s not just one sided; as a child of the Master, I have some serious obligations, too. When a baby says “dada” we ooh and aah. If a normal, healthy teenager said it, it would be pathetic. The same thing goes with our spiritual life. When we are baby Christians, it’s okay to crawl through the Word of God and stumble through our prayers. As we grow and spend time with God, we have to act like a mature Christian. As our father, God doesn’t want to spoon feed us forever.

As I continue in life, I also notice a change in the relationship between myself and my parents. Before I depended on them to change my diaper, get me the things I wanted, and I would get mad when I didn’t get my way. Now our relationship has taken on an amazing turn; my parents are now my friends. I am not just taking and wanting, I am also giving back. I think as a Christian, it is much the same way with God. As I grow in my faith and love for Him, its not about “give me this” or “I want that.” It’s becoming “What can I do for you, God?” “Where do you want me to go?” God has become my friend and my confidant and not the spiritual slot machine that so many make Him out to be. I want God to know that He can count on me and that I will be faithful.

Watching the kids around me (and now my own sweet daughter), I am also learning again what it is like to remain a child in the important ways. I used to cut and tape pictures to make books of my nephew’s favorite things in life: food, toys, and characters that I found in the Sunday advertising section of the newspaper. He would take it everywhere with him. God makes us sunsets and mountains out of his immense color pallet. He created birds to serenade us with unique melodies. The ocean roars to show us His power. The breeze dances to show us his tenderness. God creates gorgeous miracles daily for our enjoyment, and as I get older, sometimes I forget to see with child-like awe. Do you remember the first time you went to the zoo or aquarium? How could there be so many different animals? Being children of God means that our daddy made all of this for us, His children. Sometimes I forget to look. I see, but I don’t always look.

Another thing about being a child of God is that I inherit some of his qualities. I am made in his glorious image. He gave me a heart to love and feel and to share. He gave me a mind to ponder, to learn and to grow. He gave me hands to create, to lift up, to offer. He gave me so much, all I can do is give it back to Him.