Six years ago today, my first little girl emerged into the world. No other experience has transformed me like becoming a dad. A seismic shift occurred in my heart at each delivery room experience. I know there is something spiritual about parenthood because my heart exploded with love each time a slimy, blue tinted alien was handed to me. It’s spiritual because newborns aren’t exactly cute when they first emerge into the world. They are slimy, smell nasty, have misshapen heads, look like they just arrived from an MMA bout, and scream like you just forcibly yanked them out of 9 months of cozy darkness. And yet, each time I laid eyes on my newborn baby I knew I would do anything to provide for and protect this child. I instantly knew that if necessary, I would sacrifice my very life and that I would never, ever, stop loving this little helpless baby.
I believe this natural flood of love is something that God puts in us. It’s because we are a little like him. We are imperfect to be sure, but the love of our heavenly Father is gifted to us when we become parents. Parents are granted a particular blessing because we get to experience a unique expression of God’s heart as we feel the immediate surge of unconditional love that accompanies laying eyes on our children for the first time. I truly believe this is a glimpse into how God feels about me and you.
Let me explain by telling you what I didn’t do when I became a parent. As my little one slept in the hospital nursery, you know that room where they keep all the babies in those plastic little tubs? That special little room that offers you your last full night of sleep for 18 years. I didn’t walk up to that glass wall separating big people from all the babies, survey all the babies and say:
- ”Wow, compared to that baby over there, my baby isn’t cute at all.”
- “I like the nose on that baby more than my baby’s nose.”
- “Man, I wish I had a different baby.”
No way. That would never happen. You don’t compare your baby. You simply love your baby. You treasure that little one because he is yours. You celebrate all the little unique things about your baby.
With ourselves and the people in our lives, we determine value and worth based on comparison.
- “She’s better looking than me.”
- “I’m more productive than he is.”
- “They have a bigger house than us.”
We rank our value by looking around and comparing. But, isn’t it interesting that we don’t do the same thing with our babies? We simply love–purely and unconditionally. It’s like pulling back the curtains on God’s love for me and for you . The flood of love that overwhelms parents during the first few moments of parenthood is a glimpse into God’s heart for us.
What if God loves you and me as fiercely and purely as a new parent? To whom does God compare you? Does God say, “I wish Aaron were more like Jon?” No way. I think God would say, “If only you could see you through My eyes.” What if instead of comparing us to other people, God celebrates our uniqueness? We spend so much energy comparing ourselves to everyone else—wishing we were different We’re always wishing we were more talented, more skinny, more wealthy, more beautiful, more athletic, more smart, more, more, more. If God could get our attention, I think he would say: “Stop comparing. I don’t compare you. Why should you? I made you like this and I like you. If only you could see you through My eyes.”
I don’t know about you, but if I could get my mind and my heart around this reality, I would live differently.
