What babies teach us . . .

I went to a birthday party for my teammate, Zach, who turned 2 on Halloween! It was, of course, great fun. But I, once again, learned a lesson from a little person that I don't want to forget.

For Zach, opening presents was a bit of a chore. He just wanted to play with the first toy he opened. But there were many more unopened gifts! His little mind couldn't comprehend it. After every cool present, they'd tear him away from it and make him open the next one. The presents were getting better and better and towards the end Zach got more and more upset. He just wanted to play! He was content.

Sometimes in life, we get content with what we've been given, thinking it's the best it's gonna get, and then God does exactly what Zachy's parents and siblings did to him. The "gift" is taken away so that the next thing can be revealed . . . the next "gift", the next chapter in life, the next assignment, the next person, etc. But since we fear the unknown, and since we don't really trust God like we think we do, we get upset, just like Zach. Loss, in our minds, can never be a good thing! It rarely occurs to us that loss and separation simply makes way for gain and the possibility of even greater gifts!

Zach's final gift was this Thomas the Tank Engine train set, which was his favorite gift. But, he couldn't foresee that. :-) Maybe this means nothing to you . . . but it does to me. Thanks, Zach.