I believe it but I can't see it

Ali has got to be confused. She knows what babies look like. She loves to hold her baby doll. She get so excited when she sees babies at church. She even makes a sign with her arms that signifies she is rocking a baby. She knows babies. She may be more of an expert than I am. So it seems that she has to be confused about Randi's pregnancy.

Randi and I have been trying to prepare her for the upcoming birth. We point to mommy's tummy and tell her the baby is in there. She, however, has gotten it into her head that we are talking about belly buttons. It was not until she pointed to her own belly button and signaled baby that we realized what she was thinking.

Even more funny, she now wants to see Daddy's baby. Yes, Daddy looks like he has a baby, but he doesn't have a baby. She, however, does not have the ability to understand this distinction. What is the difference to her? It is simple to her. She evaluates what people tell her and makes determinations from it.

Ali thought, "I understand babies." Then, she was thrown a curve. I guess she is able to move and change. While her understanding is technically wrong, she is trying to comprehend new ideas. She is trying to incorporate them into her life. It would be great if I could learn to flex and change as she does.

I pray that God will continue to mold me to hear his voice and do his will even when it does not make sense to my mind.

Learning New Things

It is interesting to watch someone learn how to do something new. I see this everyday at work. I am also seeing it at home. Ali is learning all kinds of new things. Currently, she is learning to potty.

Teaching somebody to do something new can be challenging. Randi has resorted to bribing Ali with HOT TAMALES! No, not the food but the candy. Alethia loves these little things. For a pee or a poop in the potty, she is rewarded.

Actually, I have been amazed at her progress. I have been laughing at myself because I realized that I was again thinking of Ali as a dog. When I was trying to train my dog, Abbey, she was constantly making a mess I had to clean up. When Randi started letting Ali run around bare bottomed or in panties, I had visions of Abbey sized floods. This has not been the case. Ali has learned so quickly.

I wonder about this principle. Why do I not learn as fast as a toddler? Why do I struggle to grasp new concepts? I love to watch her... she just studies something as if she is trying to unlock its miracle.

Maybe this is the key. She still possess the wonder of the world. She is desparately trying to figure things out. As for me, this world is old hat. I have been there and done that! Yeah right.

I see people that are stuck everyday. They hate their lives. They are depressed. They are angry. When we come to a place of change, they are resistant. This will never cease to amaze me. They want to change and yet they will not. There are no options. They are not willing to learn a new way.

I want to have that same kind of wonder that Ali has. I want to learn with gusto. I want to grab life and live it to all of its potential. I cannot do this if I am not willing to try something different.

May the Lord bless me with opportunities to learn new things.