Striving for Mobility

It's really hard to believe but this little fella is already seven months old! Evan was born on February 4, 2008.

Over these last seven months, my wife and I have watched in amazement as he has grown. From the little baby that was totally helpless for the first few weeks to the little boy that will probably be crawling by the end of this week, he is making steady progress toward mobility.

Mobility is an interesting concept and desire. The vast majority of us want to move forward in life, to grab life by the horns and pull ourselves up a little higher. It seems most of us are always reaching for the next rung on the ladder.

Maybe that desire for mobility and moving forward starts even before we are born. I know when we first thought my wife might be pregnant, we could hardly wait to confirm it. For a couple of days, we watched for signs (morning sickness, backache, etc.), not really realizing that we were too early for those things. Then, we purchased the "at home pregnancy kit" and the kit said, "Not Pregnant." Relief or disappointment? We didn't know. What we failed to do was read the fine print--the "at home" tests only work after so many days or weeks of pregnancy! When my wife did show "signs" of being pregnant, we took the test again. This time--PREGNANT! Relief or disappointment? More like scared out of our mind! But, we moved forward.

We moved forward with doctor visits, telling family and friends, and getting the room ready for our baby. We moved forward with clothes, paint choices, and even decorations for the room. We moved forward working on names and lists of who to call when he would finally arrive.

Now, it's Evan's turn to move forward, to strive for mobility. His scooting is just the beginning. Before long, he'll be up on all fours, crawling around the house. Then, he'll pull up for the first time and take his first steps. All of those days will happen before we know it. Mobility.

Then, Evan will be off to school, playing with friends in the neighborhood, and in no time, he'll be learning to drive. Mobility.

As you can tell, Evan's latest developmental milestone has caused me to wax eloquent about the days ahead. I really am glad that he is gaining mobility. I'm thrilled as I watch him scoot across the floor--sometimes on his belly, sometimes on his back. I'm thrilled to watch him as he wants to hold his bottle and feed himself with his spoon. I really do want him to grow and mature and be mobile. I promise you I do. But, I also know how much I love holding that little boy, feeling his head rest against my neck, and knowing that he trusts me with everything.

I wonder sometimes if God looks down at us from heaven with the same kinds of desires that parents have. Does He see us where we are, knowing where we could be, and then pushes us forward? Are there times He holds us back? Are there times He has to let us fall and skin our knees?

What about you today? Is God pushing you a little too hard? Or, is He having to hold you back until it's time for you to move forward? Skinned your knees or elbows lately?

I'd love to hear about your journey today.