Martin Luther once said that the essence of sin is a curvature of the self in and upon the self. I think Luther was onto something. Self-centeredness, selfishness, self-referentiality, call it whatever you wish, we human beings are naturally bent towards looking out for numero uno, our needs, exalting ourselves...overall, making the world revolve around us. Think about it: our own self-estimation causes us to lust after people or things - we think to ourselves how much that thing would please us, how we deserve it, with no thought to the dignity of the person being lusted after, no consideration of the place of such thing in God's economy. This curvature of the self is so deceptive - we don't even know when we're being all about us!
Calvin is showing me how deep the well runs for me. He is exposing patterns of selfishness ingrained in my habits and lifestyle that I was ignorant to. Likewise, Sarah, by her selfless example and unflinching maternal love, shows me how far I must still go. I'm all about MY sleep. I love the kid because of the joy he brings ME. When he's fussy, poopy, crying, I get frustrated. Why? Because he is not behaving the way I want him to. I see now more than ever that parenting is a means for my sanctification. God is making me who He wants me to be not as a father to Calvin, but as a child of God. As I pray with Calvin in the evenings, I am overwhelmed with love for him - a love that I pray truly becomes a little more selfless today than it was yesterday. May the Lord continue to free us from our propensity towards selfishness no matter what our season of life because we all have people immediately around us in need of love.
And now for the pics...
Mama and Calvin look better than ever!
Calvin praying...
The kid knows how to sleep in style.
Grandpa and Calvin...
The mystery of where Calvin got his feet has been solved!!!
Calvin and samchoon...
That's all for now!!! Blessings...
2 comments:
He is sooooooooooooo cute!!!!! BTW, NJ had the same green striped outfit when he was first born.
Yes, parenting is a very humbling means for sanctification and I still experience it every day!
yay! an update!! calvin has changed so much even in a month! what a cutie!! hope you enjoyed the time with the family.
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