Only Mom will Do
In preparation for the birth of our son, we babysat one of Mary Anne’s little nieces. She is 5 months old. She woke up just before her mom and dad left and broke out crying when she realized what was happening. Here was this, probably, strange man holding her. Yes, I was feeding her a bottle, yes I was holding her firmly and comfortably. The thing is that I am not her mother or father and I am still mostly a stranger.
I tried all of the techniques I know. She would feed for a while and then suddenly break out crying. Through shorter and shorter gaps of feeding, we eventually finished the bottle. I got out a few good burps but still, she cried. The soother would help a little, but then she would go back to crying. I tried playing with her on her back while showing her high-contrast puppets. I tried rocking, squats, stairs and so much more. We checked and changed her diaper. We gave her toys. I could get her to stop crying for short periods, but any time she would hear my voice, or look at me the cries would restart.
Eventually, a dim room, a book on tape, a rocking chair, and holding her got her to sleep. I think all of this only worked because I helped her to forget that I wasn’t her mom. This peace was broken by Layla barking and I began more strategies. It was the same effect.
When her mom and dad arrived, she was handed off and immediately the crying stopped and the giggles began. Now, she was even happy to see me.
This did scare me a little as a soon-to-be dad, but I know that often only mom and dad will do. I tell you all of this because I think this tells us a lot about our need and longing for God. We have a deep-rooted need for the safety, love, and presence of our creator and parent: God. Nothing else really measures up or fills that need. We might be able to ignore it, forget it, or substitute it for enough time to settle ourselves, but soon enough we will feel that old longing. I think so many people, myself included, are prone to addiction for this same reason: something can only make us forget our needs and longing for so long. I could go on and talk about the darkness as a way of blurring, or of using other voices, replacements for God, and more, but again we only need to be jarred out of it to realize we have a greater need.
The last part of this is that when we really find where we can have rest and comfort. When we know our Father in heaven is so close, that is when we can explore and find comfort and joy in the things around us. He gives us peace that then we might have for others.
It is a strange but simple fact: Only God will do.
