Building Blocks and Spiritual Formation
I wrote about this nine months ago (what?!), but the way a toddler learns still fascinates me. At Byron's first birthday, we were gifted big lego blocks. For three months, Parker and I would sit with Byron and build a simple tower. Block on block on block. Green, yellow, red, blue.
As soon as we stacked a tower three to four blocks high, Byron, the Destroyer, would knock it down. It became a game to see how many blocks we could stack before he would knock them down.
Then, one day, I turned to see Byron stacking the blocks himself.
Block on block on block.
His towers were anything but sturdy, but he was suddenly doing the opposite of what he had been doing for so many months. He learned to build a tower by watching Parker and me do it over and over again. While there were moments we tried to teach him how to stack one block on another, there were more moments he must have just watched as we built a tower by ourselves.
While we didn't have to teach him how to destroy the tower, he did have to learn how to build it. And that took a lot of time.
I won't pretend that I know anything about spiritually forming children. I am literally learning everything as I go (and cracking open as few parenting books as possible, they overwhelm me!). But, if watching Byron learn how to build a tower gives me any insight into spiritual formation, it's this. Children (and adults) are natural destroyers. We don't have to be taught how to destroy towers or relationships. But we have to be taught to build.
Over time and with much repetition, we have to be taught how to build block towers and Jesus-formed hearts. It may take months or years for the pieces to fall into place -- for hearts, minds, and bodies to function in the Spirit, but none of the time it takes to model and teach is wasted.
One day, Parker and I won't be the only models and teachers for Byron or any of our other kids. But, I pray that other adults and friends in their life will also teach them how to build instead of destroy for the glory of God and good of others.
"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock." Matthew 7:24
Small Graces
It's funny how a lack of sleep and personal, alone time makes one crave early mornings in a comfy chair. I do want more sleep, but I also want the freedom of my own routine. The routine I miss most is slow, early mornings with coffee, my Bible, a book, and whatever else sparks my mind.
Since Byron was born 22 months ago, I have struggled to find any consistent or satisfying way to study the Bible. There are many great resources for studying in other ways, like listening to the Bible, listening to podcasts, and studying with the kids around. But, honestly, having my attention split between baby and Bible just sucks my energy.
As we wait for baby number two to arrive, I know this conundrum will only grow more complicated in the foreseeable future. I want to have some kind of consistent time with God, but I know it won't come in the form I want most. At least not yet.
But, toward the end of my second trimester, a couple of weeks into our new life in Ohio, God gifted me the small grace of waking up before Byron to have my own quiet time.
For a brief month, I could wake up to the early-ish alarm, sit down alone with my Bible, read, and pray. It was deeply satisfying and encouraging. Then, it ended when the weariness of the third trimester set in.
But that short month showed me that sometime in the future -- maybe one year, two years, three? -- I can have part of my beloved routine back. The years of diapers, nighttime wake-ups, and babies who want my attention won't last forever.
Until then, I'll be pressing into God for endurance, hope, and wisdom in the margins and challenging moments of my day. I know motherhood trains me in the righteousness of Christ as no quiet time can. But I will look forward to the small grace of waking up to an alarm over the sound of a crying baby.
What do/did you find helpful to stay in the Word with littles?
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I write here whenever I have the brain space. You'll find posts on Scripture, culture, motherhood, and more. I also write daily devotionals that can be found on the Revelation Wellness App!