Gratifying
Nils has started being much more mobile and coordinated. He can pull himself up and stand at the couch, and cruise a little bit too. With this increased coordination comes an increased incidence of pain. He falls over, and pinches his fingers, bonks his head and all sorts of other things. I recognize his “I’m hurt!” cry and go to comfort him. I really like being able to comfort him.
Last night something really startled him (I think he had some static electricity and shocked himself). He cried longer than normal, and was content to let me hold him on my lap and rock him. While I was holding him I was thinking to myself how nice it felt. When I hold him while he’s happy he sqirms, grabs at my hair and glasses, arches his back, whacks at my face, and wants down. He just isn’t content to sit with me. When he’s scared or hurt and wants comfort he’ll just ‘melt’ into my arms and stay as long as I’ll keep holding him.
It is an immensely gratifying feeling. It makes me feel loved and needed, important and special to my son. I don’t like that he is in pain, but I love that he seeks me out when he is. I love to comfort him, and enjoy sitting with him in my arms.
I wondered if we aren’t like that in God’s eyes. When we’re happy we’re difficult to deal with. We want our way, and think we can do everything on our own. We don’t want to be ‘held.’ When we need comfort from him we’re much more ’still’ we seek him out and listen carefully. I wondered if Heavenly Father doesn’t get similar feelings of gratification when we seek out his help and comfort. Obviously God doesn’t need me to make him feel important or loved, but at the same time I wonder if he doesn’t feel it a little more strongly when I admit that I need him.
April 22nd, 2006 04:34
Very nice.
I have four boys and have noticed the same thing. I feel I’m at my best when I am comforting them. But they always prefer mom.
How much better we would all be if we could maintain the humble attitude towards God even when things are going really well.
April 22nd, 2006 11:19
I’ve been thinking something similar myself recently. Thank you for putting it down so clearly and beautifully.
April 23rd, 2006 20:58
Nice post, sweet and profound.
April 24th, 2006 16:42
Starfoxy, I’m thinking on this now as my little guy scoots backwards. Today he was crying when his legs were stuck under the sofa, awww.
The gratifying feeling of being able to comfort is as joyful as the inability to comfort is painful, I think. I need to hold onto those joyful moments in anticipation of when he will no longer seek to be comforted.
I like your application to us and our relationship with God. Do you suppose part of the gratification He feels is pleasure as we are doing as He has asked, to come unto Him, to cast our burdens on Him?
April 24th, 2006 22:59
Starfoxy, thanks so much for prompting some very sweet memories and thoughts, which have ended up as the post entitled Growing up unto the Lord on my blog.