On Saturday we celebrated Kaspar’s first nine months of life outside the womb. It is difficult to grasp just how quickly these months have flow in comparison to the nine months we waited for his arrival!
Perhaps it was because during his first nine months of life, we couldn’t see him, we only saw the effect his growth and development had on Maggie’s body. We even got a glimpse of him before birth via his ultrasounds but our interaction to him was second-hand, Maggie was the only one who had a relationship with him.
Then he was born and we began to know him as not only Kaspar, Maggie and Jan’s baby, but as Kaspar the tiny human being with his own distinct personality. Getting to know and understand his wants and needs was a process, It wasn’t always easy and we all had successes and failures with steps forward and back all along the way.
Now, at nine months, we are beginning to know who Kaspar is. On the positive side, he is sweet and he is cuddly. He is inquisitive and quick to learn. He is social and takes in everything around him. He plays well with himself and is very entertaining. On the other hand, Kaspar is intolerant of footwear and lets us know is his strongest voice that he does not want to wear sturdy shoes, no matter how cute. He also has some other very strong fashion dislikes including woven button-down shirts.
As he tries new foods, he likes to eat french fries and sweet potatoes but prefers to squish bananas between his fingers to eating them and likes to suck on lime wedges, but isn’t so keen on getting the lime juice in his eyes! He is also showing signs that he is ready to bond with Mabel, the family dog. Already she has learned that Kaspar provides many treats under his high chair and he is learning that if he bends over the side he can drop the food for her.
I realized this morning as I’m plunking away at the keys that getting to know my newest grandson has been a lot like getting to know God.
As a child, I learned about God’s presence and was told I would someday get to know him. But it wasn’t until I was older that I began to see the marvels of God’s work, especially in Nature. As I’ve matured, I’ve gotten to really know God and love him for all he is in my life.
And, like getting to know a baby, it hasn’t always been easy to know God and to understand what God wants for me. I’ve had successes and failures along the way. I’ve moved forward and moved back, sometimes more back than forward.
But, with all the up and downs I am secure in my relationship and trust in God. And just like Kaspar looks toward Maggie and Jan for reassurance when he is unsure of something in his life, I turn to God for the same in mine. Wow.
I wonder what else I will learn in Kaspar’s next nine months as he transitions from baby to toddler!