the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Daily Devotionals
Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
Ever listen to a baby's cry? Over the past few years I have been in the homes of several young couples who have new additions to their families. Someplace along the way that new addition has awakened and seemingly has not been too happy about doing so. The parents take a certain measure of time to try to quiet the little bundle of upset emotions.
But is a baby's cry the cry of emotional distress? Consider this. In raising three children my wife and I found out that babies cry for different reasons. If they are hungry they cry. If they are needing changed they cry. If they need cuddled they cry. If something scares them they cry. In each situation they have a need. They cry so that need can be met. That is called "hope".
During the time our children were infants my wife and I struggled with meeting those needs. Indeed, some of those needs arise out of previously met expectations. Our children learned that they were not going to be fed every time they awoke and thought they ought to be fed. Many times they were given a bottle of water and not formula. They soon quit waking up and wanting to be fed, but they were still fed when they needed to be. They learned that hope is tied to needs and not pampered wants.
We who pride ourselves at being adults would do well to learn from these small humans we call babies. Some of us still think that we live under God so that He can give us everything we want when we want it. Our problem is that we still behave like babies on many fronts. We struggle with the line of demarcation between what is a need and what is a want. Our hopes become somewhat selfish.
When we wrap our hopes up in salvation and concentrate on the final victory our hope takes on a sharp focus. It is no longer selfish but actually shared. And people take notice. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you." 1 Peter 3:15 Yes, there is hope in a baby's cry. And God hears our deepest cries.
'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' Copyright 2010 © Tom Kelley. 'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provisions: 1) A proper credit must be given to the author at the end of each story, along with their complete bio and a link to https://www.studylight.org/ 2) 'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' content may not be arranged or "mirrored" as a competitive online service.
