The Wonder

This week is our Vacation Bible School at the church. Usually during this week I teach the grade 4-6 class. However, this year I have a very special assignment - Jack. Jack is the three-month-old child of our new youth pastor and his wife, Mel. Mel has taken my spot on the teaching roster and I have taken her spot in caring for Jack during the 3 hours of VBS. In fact, as I am writing this Jack is sleeping peacefully at my side.

As I have been caring for Jack a number have thoughts have been going through my mind. On the lighter side, I am so thankful that my own children came along when I was in my twenties. I had forgotten the energy required to care to an infant and, frankly, at 45 I'm pooped after caring for Jack for three hours. It has reminded me again of how we need to support those who care for their little ones. Mothers, in particular, often have this draining task and receive little thanks for the effort they expend.

Secondly, these last few days have once again driven home to me the miracle of the life God gives. As I have cuddled Jack, changed his diaper, given him his bottle, the wonder of life is renewed in my heart. He is beautiful. His smile can melt your heart. How can anyone say that such a life is something we can snuff out mindlessly just because it is still within the mother's body. The abortion industry doesn't want us to think of Jack when they sell their message. They want us to think of a shapeless lump of tissue called a fetus. That way we can depersonalize it and rationalize our guilt away. But holding Jack you just know it isn't true. The wonder of God's miracle of life was just as amazing 3 months ago or 6 months ago or 9 months ago. It was still the miracle of Jack when a cell from his mother and one from his father came together to create life.

Lest I become too sentimental, let me also note that it has not all been cuddles and sonshine as I care for Jack. Yesterday was tough. He was miserable and cranky. Nothing satisfied him. Several times I am sure that, had he been big enough, he would have displayed his displeasure with me violently. Looking at him now in peaceful slumber it is hard to say. . . but Jack is a sinner. He has inherited his first father Adam's nature. While we can never lose our awe at the wonder of God-given life in an infant, we can also never allow that wonder to trivialize the truth that we all come into this world in rebellion against God. The answer for Jack, for me, and for you, dear reader, is that we all must have a second birth. The Spirit of God must give us new life through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross in our place. Only then can we really talk about being as "innocent as a baby."