I’m A Big Kid Now

The other night my 4 year old came running into my room crying. Normally I’d tell her she’s fine and send her back to bed, but she was almost hysterical. When I finally got her to calm down enough to tell me what was wrong, she looked up at me with her tear filled eyes and said, “Ruby said when I’m a big kid, I won’t need you anymore. Is that true? I don’t want to be a big kid!” Oh my heart!

When I finally got her to calm down, I explained to her that when she is a big kid she will be able to do a lot on her own, but I will always be there to help her. I told her that mommy is a big person, but her Honey still helps mommy. When she connected this in her own way she looked up at me and smiled saying, “Ruby was wrong!” She gave me the biggest hug before going back to bed. These are the types of moments that we as parents live for.

As I laid in bed later that night, I couldn’t help but smile as I thought on her devastation at the idea of her not needing mommy. So much so that she says she doesn’t want to grow up. While thinking on it, God spoke saying it’s the same with us and Him. As infants in our faith, we rely on Him and others so much. But the day will come when we grow up, become “big kids” and are ready for solid food, just as 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 states.

I’m in a group prayer message with incredible mighty women of God. I posted a prayer request for myself as I’ve had health issues recently. One of the women responded with a word from the Lord. She said she had the word, but not the understanding. As I sat and read and then re-read her word over and over again, I had hoped that someone else would provide the translation for me, but it never came. I prayed then and knew that it was time for me to find understanding on my own. To seek Him separately and to ask Him for the understanding, not wait for others to give it to me.

You see, it is time for me to be a “big kid”. I can cry and protest it all I want, but growing up is inevitable. At some point, I must learn how to be independent. But just as I assured my daughter that I will always be there to help her, God assures us. Independence doesn’t mean we are left alone. He promises to never leave us in Deuteronomy 31:6. So it is time to put the bottle down and move on to solid food. It’s time to grow up and be a big kid!

Deuteronomy 31:6

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

1 Corinthians 3:1-2

“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly-mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.”