Last night Goober(That’s what we call our 2 month old baby boy) was cranky.  As it often goes between 9 and 11 pm, we didn’t know what he wanted. Usually we try a bottle, diaper changing, swaddling, leaving him alone, and then another bottle before he decides that all he really wanted to do was eat.

I’m reminded of the first few days after coming home from the hospital.  He was an angel during the day. Everyone ooh’d and ah’d about what a good, quiet baby he was.  Well, those people never met my little terror in the wee hours of the morning!  He was insatiable, loud, and demanding. We’d plead with him for just an hour or two of sleep.  He didn’t know how much we loved him, and he certainly didn’t love us back.  He just wanted food. Now.

Despite a lack of loving feedback from our little Goober, we trudged on.  Feeding, rocking, and swaddling the night through. The more tired we were, the more frustrated we became. Why couldn’t he just sleep?  Why must he cry all night and sleep all day? All through it we loved that little guy. When he was pooping and when he was screaming we loved him.  Even through the pain of nursing we loved him.  I think that was harder for my husband than it was for me.  He is very protective of me.

Would there ever be relief? Reciprocation? Alas, there would. Eventually he calmed when we’d hold him. He started to smile at us when we looked at him. This morning he was wailing for a bottle after sleeping a solid 9 hours(impressive, huh?).  When I went to the nursery to get him he just stopped crying.  He must have been really hungry, but he stopped fussing and smiled at me! He was actually happy to see me! HE LOVES ME! Now it feels like all of the tender loving care that was taken for granted for so long is finally paying off.  What a relief.

How frustrating it must be for God to watch us live our lives without him.  He brought each of us into this world and has nurtured us our entire lives. Thank you God for not giving up on me! Thank you for loving me. I love you too!

                 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8, NIV)