Grow Up!

"I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys R Us Kid!" That song is ringing in my head as I begin this post. :) It's tempting on Caleb's 18 mo. birthday to reflect on his life and want him to stay in the baby stage. I miss those coos and snuggliness. :) However, he is doing all sorts of fun new things! (more on this in a minute). I've been going through Hebrews with Marc, and it is so rich!! It also talks about growing up spiritually, so that's what got me on this kick. :)

Hebrews 5:11-14 says:

11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Have you ever felt sluggish in your faith? I know I sure have. The writer of Hebrews was talking to Jewish Christians, rebuking them for that very thing, calling them unskilled, immature, and not well-practiced. Obviously, not growing up is considered a bad thing. The writer goes on in chapter six with some very challenging words about the consequences of not moving on to maturity. Many have debated the implications of these verses, so I will avoid getting to deep into them, but I love the following...

Hebrews 6:11-12 says:
[11] And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, [12] so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

It is so easy to get sluggish in our faith and take Christ for granted. We need to continue to press on, desiring to learn and get past mere spiritual milk. Brothers and sisters from the past did so by faith and patience, and we are called to that as well. I can't help but think immediately of Abraham and Sarah, who waited so long for God's promises to be fulfilled in their lives. How silly am I to get so discouraged so fast!

Now on to Mr. Caleb. :) He is getting so grown! Physically he is still a little guy, but man is he smart! He repeats almost every word we say. Like when we go outside now he says, "Brrrrr!" He loves to help me clean and do laundry. He'll run to the door of the laundry room and say, "Lawnry!" He'll help me pick up his toys and put them back in bins...it makes it easier to "keen" with his help!:) This will continue as he gets older, right? Ha! He LOVES to make us laugh! He loves to dance...bobbing up and down and stomping his feet are the extent of his dance moves currently. :) He's learning peek a boo and says, "Pssst, Pssst!" when he does it. He's FINALLY learning to give and blow kisses. He says, "Maw", and then he'll proceed to give you a slobbery open mouth kiss on your cheek! He's learning to use and fork and spoon and is starting to more specifically tell us what he wants with words. He is starting to memorize books too. He will respond with a word if I say the rest of the sentence. :) So cute!!
Oh I could go on forever! Definitely some videos coming soon!

With all that said, may we all value growing up, both in our kids and in ourselves!