It was Daniel's nine-month mile marker-certainly an occasion for a trip to the
photography studio. I headed to the mall with my sweet baby, all decked out in
his cutest nerd suit, complete with suspenders and bow tie. He was adorable.
The poor baby had a nagging, malicious ear infection that wouldn't let go. But
the doctor had pulled out the big guns and put him on one of the more
infection-exploding medicines the day before. I was thrilled when he was able to
muster some cute grins for the camera.
The photographer finished and I scooped him up to go. But I hadn't realized that
an infection-exploding antibiotic could also be a diaper-exploding one. "Big
guns" was right. Actually, it was more like C-4. I had the baby perched on my
hip, so when the explosion sent fallout right out the leg of the diaper, it ran
all down my right leg. Before I could do anything, it flowed right into my shoe.
Have you ever tried to write a check for baby pictures with a poop river flowing
into your shoe?
I may have overpaid by a few hundred dollars, I'm not sure. I just wanted to get
out of there and get home. You should have heard me as I practically sprinted
through the mall: step, squish, step, squish, step, squish.
By the time I got to a place where I could change the baby, we both needed a
make-over. Not only did I have to change nearly every piece of clothing I had
on, but some of them never recovered. Argh-my favorite shoes.
Jesus brings the most beneficial changes into our lives. Everyone who comes to
Christ comes as a babe- not knowing much about the walk of faith. But the Bible
teaches us that by his grace, He begins to change us from the inside out. He
transforms us. He makes us look more and more like Himself. Paul said, "Then we
will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we
believe. Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times-speaking truly,
dealing truly, living truly-and so become more and more in every way like
Christ" (Ephesians 4:14-15a, TLB).
To become more like Christ is to become more of what we really long to be. I
have to confess though, sometimes changing gets messy. Sometimes changing and
growing happens through trials, heartache or testing. Still, I never met a baby
who never needed to be changed.
I'm so glad that my baby never said, "Hey, I like myself this way. I don't need
to change." Do you think a baby is happier and more comfortable sitting in the
same old diaper, or cleaned up- new and freshly changed? In the same chapter of
Ephesians we find these instructions: "You were taught, with regard to your
former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its
deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on
the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
(verses 22-24, NIV)
As his children, let's allow Christ to change us. It's an adventurous step in
becoming more like Him in righteousness and holiness. And don't worry; it's a
step without a squish.
Contributed by Rhonda Rhea rrhea@juno.com
Rhonda Rhea writes for dozens of great Christian publications and speaks at
conferences and events across the country. You can find her new book, Amusing
Grace, at your local Christian bookstore. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is a
pastor in Troy, Missouri. You can reach them through her website at
www.rhondarhea.net
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