I was visiting a friend and her 10-day-old daughter and, as always, was astonished at how God created us. Two weeks earlier, she was an inside baby — warm, safe, listening to her mother’s heartbeat. Now she’s an outside baby — still safe and warm, but breathing air and listening to the sound of her siblings playing.

My friend is in it. With a newborn, 2-year-old, and 4-year-old, she is spending her days keeping people alive while simultaneously civilizing them and teaching them about Jesus. (Because really, if your children are civilized and love the Lord, you’ve succeeded.) She does it happily because this is what she dreamed of. I think she, and others like her, are heroes.

Whenever I’m near a baby, I reflect that my own kids were once that size. How is it that these grown adults who are bigger than me once resided inside me? The miracle of it never stops being amazing to me, and I’m glad about that. The whole process of raising a human from infancy to adulthood is rightly amazing and a reflection of the incredible creativity of our Creator God.

I used to sit on the floor and play car track, Sorry!, and dolls with my young ones. Now, we play Sheepshead and have corn hole tournaments, both of which require more mental and physical dexterity than a rousing game of Sorry! (which ends the same way every time — waiting for someone to roll a 2 and move the peg into home).

I used to put food in their mouths. Now, they buy and make their own food.

I used to drive them all over — school, practice, friends’ houses. Now, they are just as likely to be driving me as I am to be driving them.

I used to read them stories, graduating from Dr. Seuss’ ABC book to “Anne of Green Gables.” Now, we share books and discuss them.

In his creative genius, God didn’t make it so our kids are born, stand up immediately and become self-sufficient quickly. He created the long game, a long surrender to the power of relationship, unconditional love, patience and reliance on him. I’m convinced it’s only through his good grace that my children are a benefit to the world instead of a burden. It’s only because of him that I had any patience or wisdom. And it’s because of him that I have these awesome adult children who are three of my four favorite people to be around.

I am reminded of Jesus’ exhortation to be like a child. Unlike my children, though, who relied heavily on their parents for everything but now are self-sufficient, we need to continue to rely on God for everything. We are told again and again in the Bible that we are part of God’s family. He is our Father. He loves us as a parent loves.

When I’m feeling bad for the times I’ve hurt others and therefore God, I remember how easy it was to forgive my children. I was able to see their behavior in light of their maturity, which kept it in perspective. When I go to God with worries and questions, I remember how I felt, being able to help my kids with their problems. I didn’t think less of them because I love them so deeply.

When my first was born, I was struck by the power of my love for him, and I realized I would do anything necessary to keep him safe. When I was expecting our second, I wondered how I could ever love another baby as much as I love the first. Turns out, our hearts stretch, and sure enough, I do. Same with the third.

This powerful love means I would lay down my life for them, and now Jesus’ Passion and Crucifixion make more sense. God loves us so much, so powerfully, so completely that he died so we can be with him in heaven forever.

And that is the genius of God. He knows we can never fully comprehend his love for us and his desire for good for us, so he gives us a glimpse through our experience with our own children. It’s hard for me to imagine God loving me more than I love those kids of mine, but I’m glad he’s given me the grace to experience loving them and move toward understanding his love for me a little bit. He is so good.

2026 Fasting Update: I fasted from beer this September. The warm summer months are my prime beer season, and there were times when I missed it. I took advantage of being part of the Body of Christ, though, and asked a friend to fast for me a couple nights. We were going to Oktoberfest with family visiting from out of town, and I wanted to enjoy a beer. Because she’s an extraordinary Catholic, she knew exactly what I was asking for and was happy to help me out. I owe her two fasts now.