I Never Met a Baby Who Never Needed Changing

It was Daniel’s nine-month mile marker -- certainly an occasion for a trip to the photography studio. I headed to the mall with my sweet baby all decked out in his cutest nerd suit, complete with suspenders and bow tie. He was adorable.

The poor baby had a nagging, malicious ear infection that wouldn’t let go. But the doctor had pulled out the big guns and put him on one of the more infection-exploding medicines the day before. I was thrilled when he was able to muster some cute grins for the camera.

The photographer finished and I scooped him up to go. But I hadn’t realized that an infection-exploding antibiotic could also be a diaper-exploding one. “Big guns” was right. Actually, it was more like C-4. I had the baby perched on my hip, so when the explosion sent fallout right out the leg of the diaper it ran all down my right leg. Before I could do anything it flowed right into my shoe. Have you ever tried to write a check for baby pictures with a poop river flowing into your shoe?

I may have overpaid by a few hundred dollars, I’m not sure. I just wanted to get out of there and get home. You should’ve heard me as I practically sprinted through the mall: step, squish, step, squish, step, squish.

By the time I got to a place where I could change the baby, we both needed a make-over. Not only did I have to change nearly every piece of clothing I had on, but some of them never recovered. Argh -- my favorite shoes.

Jesus brings the most beneficial changes into our lives. Everyone who comes to Christ comes as a babe -- not knowing much about the walk of faith. But the Bible teaches us that by His grace, He begins to change us from the inside out. He transforms us. He makes us look more and more like Himself. Paul said, “Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe…. Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times -- speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly -- and so become more and more in every way like Christ…” (Ephesians 4:14-15a, TLB).

To become more like Christ is to become more what we really long to be. I have to confess though, sometimes changing gets messy. Sometimes changing and growing happens through trials, heartache or testing. Still, I never met a baby who never needed to be changed.

I’m so glad that my baby never said, “Hey, I like myself this way. I don’t need to change.” Do you think a baby is happier and more comfortable sitting in the same old diaper, or cleaned up -- new and freshly changed? In the same chapter of Ephesians we find these instructions: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (verses 22-24, NIV)

As His children, let’s allow Christ to change us. It’s an adventurous step in becoming more like Him in righteousness and holiness. And don’t worry. It’s a step without a squish.

Rhonda Rhea is a pastor’s wife and mother of five. She speaks at conferences and events across the country. Look for her newest book, Turkey Soup for the Soul—Tastes Just Like Chicken. www.RhondaRhea.net