What's the time? Baby Time!

The Head is on the right and the brain is forming. You can see a tiny arm at the top too. The hand points to the bottom.

Yesterday, we finally got to go to the doctor appointment to officially confirm Juliet's pregnancy. We had two positive home tests at the end of January, but held off on the public announcement until the doc said everything was good.

Baby Byers is healthy thus far @ nearly 8 weeks and we are very excited! Nervous, but excited.

I think part of the nervousness is related more to how we will raise our child, and the accountability we will have someday to God for how our baby was raised. It worries me at times to see kids raised in great Christian homes who do a complete 180 once they are out on their own. By that same token though, many kids from bad homes end up coming to Christ. I guess it balances out in the end.

Juliet had a great benefit of being raised in a spiritual home. I would say I did as well, though certainly ours didn't compare quite to hers. We definitely went to church, heard the sermons, prayed, etc... Her family, especially her mom, lived it daily. She prayed for the family, they would sit and read the Bible as a family, and many other things that we may have tried once or twice but ultimately dropped (probably due to Andy and I honestly wanting to go play our video games).

Juliet would be the first to admit that her siblings didn't always appreciate the motherly spiritual leading either. They still rebelled at times, and only recently did Juliet realize how great her mother's influence actually had been. They, like us all, had gone astray many times, but in the end, that spiritual foundation in the household, resulted nearly the whole family truly embracing Christ. And there is still great hope for those not to that point yet.

It's that type of foundation, that stays in place regardless of the typical adolescent rebellions that ultimately allows the stability in the faith to bring children back. Often it's children of pastors who have it worst, as Satan tends to attack those families much more because of the Godly parent. It certainly explains the statistically rebellious nature of preacher's kids.

Still, God is a God that will always stand by our faithful wishes, and a mother or father's prayers for their children certainly do not go unnoticed.

Like most prayer, God is not there as our genie in a bottle, ready to dispense our desires as soon as we ask. Sometimes it takes years. I've heard of situations where the parent had already passed away when the child (now adult) finally came to Christ. We, as future parents, must simply trust God to work it out for His good purpose, and not let ourselves get in the way with impatience or unfaithfulness.

I've heard countless stories of mothers with rebellious kids who prayed constantly for their children. One day, in all of these stories, the child comes back, and the life experience learned away from Christ, often gives the strongest testimony of Christ. Still, I bet that mother is anxiously awaiting all the while, and certainly patience is a virtue all parents need.

We may be early on in the pregnancy, and so I expect some potential wisdom to still come flowing our way. I hope it does really, because we need all the help we can get in the day to day care of raising a child. Spiritually, as the leader of our household, I will step up and make sure that this baby is raised in as Godly of a home as possible. We will set that foundation. I've already prayed multiple times for God to be ready to use Baby Byers as He sees fit, and to make an impact for the kingdom. I trust also our extended families will support us in how we raise our child, as I'm sure from time to time we may disagree.

I like the story of Hannah in the Bible. Hannah was the mother of Samuel who would become the prophet to Israel's first king, Saul. Hannah had prayed faithfully for a child, but was unable to have one. Finally, and in His good time, God grants Hannah her desire. When Samuel was born, this mother, probably against all of her human instincts, promised her son to God, and let him be raised in the temple to be in close contact with God. Samuel grew up, walking with God, and God called him as a prophet. Hannah likely missed her son at times (though she did visit every year), but she knew there was a higher calling.

I am not saying that Baby Byers is going to live at the church literally, but I think even as present day examples, we can certainly dedicate our children to God. It establishes right away who is in control. Unlike infant baptism, which serves little purpose, a congregational dedication of the baby is a great representation of the parents' desire to raise the child in Christ. Baptism is needed when the child ultimately makes their own decision to follow Christ as representation of that decision. This normally happens much later upon reaching the age of consent. Regardless doctrinally, when we know God is in control, the troubles of our lives become small within the greater plan. It leads to a life of less worry.

It definitely takes a large leap of faith, to be willing to let God's will be done in this child's life to whom we will have a very strong bond. Even letting God's will fully be done in my life as an adult has taken a lot of effort...correction: takes effort. It's ongoing. To fully trust that our child will be in God's will, takes a relenting of some control on our part.

Our hope and dreams for the baby are numerous. The Byers family could certainly use a preacher in the mix someday, or another musician, or a lawyer, or a number of other things. It's fun to think about, but we really don't know, and can't know at this point.

What I do know, is this baby will be raised in a loving spiritual household. It will not be mentally or spiritually abusive as some Christian homes tend to be, and the child will certainly make their own decisions. But, we will set as strong a foundation as we can muster, with God's help, to ensure that Baby Byers gets the best he or she can from this life.

Let the fun begin!