The dependency of a child

Recently some friends of mine gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and it is so amazing to see how close he is to his parents. He cries and he is tended to, he is hungry and is fed. Even when he lies still in his slumber, his family looks on adoringly, waiting until he stirs and they can step back in to the roles they were given. In contrast, when we look to the ‘animal kingdom’ we see that most mammals after being born are up onto shaky legs and searching for their food. Insects, reptiles and the like, are almost fully self sufficient as soon as they are born. Looking back nostalgically to primary school and learning about the food chain and which animals eat which, to gain position. We learnt that human beings are at the top and every animal is below us. Thus making mankind the dominant species on Earth.

It is so amazing how God has made us, bringing us into the world as a newborn baby. We are so dependent and trusting on our parents. When we need milk and nourishment, it is provided for us joyfully and in abundance. In our western culture, the majority of us depend on our parents until we are at least 18.

Would it be logical that the supreme being, creator of the world, in His infinite character would create beings to be like Him and take care of His creation, so weak and defenseless as infants?  Does it make sense that the creatures at the top of the food chain are reliant for nearly two decades? God in His unfathomable wisdom and resource could create mankind to be ready to take on the responsibility of the Earth as soon as they’re born. After all…He is God!!

Could this seemingly bizarre logic show us more about God’s character? Could this way of designing mankind show us more about an intimate and immanent God?

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:26

Perhaps God’s urge is to be fully involved in His creation? Maybe He aches for mankind so much.

The life of a baby and its relationship to the loving parent could be an arrow pointing towards God’s craving for relationship with man. This could be teaching us how to be dependent on our father. The dependance of a child needing to be held…and comforting touch of their gentle parent. When a child cries to be fed…parents willingly feed it.

When we depend on God as a child depends on its parents our Father comforts, provides and feeds us in abundance. The truth is that God does desire to be with us.  Then we grow. We learn. We know our Father and his touch.

Are we completely dependent on God? I admit that I am not completely reliant and that is something God has spoken to me about in this. What is being completely dependent on God? The dependance of a child?

A child is dependent in the good and the bad. When a child needs food, nourishment, it asks, it cries, it makes it known to the parent. When a child needs comfort, love and compassion it asks. When a child falls over and hurts itself it will cry and seek its parent. I work in a children’s nursery and the majority of the time when they fall or hurt themselves they will cry for their mummy or daddy.

So much of the time people are broken and bruised and hurt as adults as a result of what was spoken to them or into them as a child, as a result of getting no attention, no love, no compassion, no sympathy from their parent - we need this attention and love.

Are we dependent on God in the big and the little things? In the happy and the sad times? In the significant and the insignificant times?When we are ill and hurting, who is the first person we go to? God? God is a healer. When we are consumed with anger, with sadness, with joy and happiness, who do we go to first? When we need help with our finances, who do we go to first? Creditors, family, friends, God? How dependent are we?

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