Moving from Mommy to Mom

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14

I've been noticing a change in Libby this summer. One that at first I wasn't too happy with, but now realizing the meaning behind it. There is something about little girls and their mommies that is different. At least I think. And that is there will come a point when they no longer call you "mommy".

On several occasions this summer Libby has slipped up and called me "mom" instead of the usual "mommy". I corrected her the first few times but realized that maybe it was a good thing yesterday when it happened. She was brushing her hair at the time. I thought about how over time I have taught her the right way to brush her hair. Its been going on for years now as you can tell from the picture above when she was probably 2 years old. Then it was just practice, but Libby can handle the job all by herself now. I notice more about these things since I am caring for an infant again. Alice needs me to do practically everything for her, and so I'm very grateful that Libby no longer needs the same.

It would be so frustrating to me as Libby's "mom" now if I watched her brush her hair and she was brushing up instead of down, or only on one side instead of her whole head of extremely thick hair. I would probably say...in my "mom" voice of course... "Haven't we gone over this before?"

That made me think about the verses above. What is the milk? What is it that I, as a 10 year old now, should know. Well for me it's that God is good! He doesn't need to prove that to me anymore...but I'm sure He will. It's that God is faithful. Again, I really should know this by now and therefore move onto even bigger steps of faith. Also that I'm forgiven. Why do I sometimes think that there is a chance that I'm not? He's told me, He's promised, and He won't change His mind. So therefore I should live in the freedom that I now have! Am I still asking Him to teach me these things over and over and over again? I hope not. I want to Know...that I know...that I know I'm loved, adored, forgiven, and in good hands.

So I'm hoping today, in this season of life, that God is moving me on to some solid food. I know He won't let me forget the milk, but I'm hoping that I don't have to keep learning the same lessons over again. I wonder what Paul would have said to the "American Church" today. Are we still sipping on our milk bottle? I crave real, juicy, soul satisfying food now! I just hope I can handle it! I'm praying that in 10 years from now the milk will still be there...but so will some new things too.

All this to say that I am welcoming my new name "mom". Over the years I have added many titles when I talk to God. He is now my Father, my Lover, my Friend, my Mighty Fortress, my Consuming Fire, my Provider, my Teacher, my Savior, my Wonderful Counselor, and my Treasure! Along with many others. I embrace those names and realize with each one I am learning more, just like Libby. I like my new name...I think it will work for us.

Libby and her "Mom"