Walking involves tip toeing, then walking on a curb to quickly switch to stomping to kick walk, with something that resembles a Nazi goose step. The song she sang in the car on the way to lunch was as follows, "A-B-C-D-No Jack - No Jack- tomorrow- itsy spider up waterspout." Playlist; ABC song, Hit the Road Jack, The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow and The Itsy Bitsy Spider. She has a future in mash up producing for cheer squads. 
And Eating?!?!? Wow! When ordering she has become vocal. The other day, at the local donut shop she ordered coffee (Mom vetoed.) And yesterday at lunch she ordered "molie" (guacamole), salad, rice and beans." She ate that and chips and salsa and cheese dip and some of her dad's vegetarian nachos and some of my avocado and so on. Sassy not only enjoys her food, she experiences it; something that makes Papa a little crazy. He wants to wipe her hands after each squish of a new handful of food but he trusts that her parents have got this figured out. She is experimenting with utensils but don't you pick up your food and stick on the fork? Her Mom and I just let go at it and clean her up at the end. I have noticed Dad sits at the other end of the table. HmmmmWhen finished eating/experiencing all she wants, she begins to sing, Clean up, clean up everybody, everywhere. Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share. She sings as she picks up the stray mushy chips, rice pieces and other debris from the gastronomic tornado we just experienced. She occasionally stops to "rediscover" a bite of something she had laid aside and forgot about.
If only...
If only we caught the parallel between the development of this growing baby girl to those growing into maturity as children of God; both are eager to experience, both fall back and make seriously interesting choices; choices we "mature" people would never make.
Sassy's parents are smart. They know when to let her explore and experience the feeling of walking on her toes or kicking rather than rush her from here to there or tell her it isn't proper to walk like that. They let her get a little messy knowing that all the while she is learning that what ever mess she makes she will need to clean up.
Our Heavenly parent is the same. God gives those that are just discovering all the richness that comes from Him a wide open field to explore and discover. God doesn't stop people from tip toeing in to a life in Christ or kicking their way into a full blown relationship with Christ. God allows for spiritual development to happen at an individual pace. God allows for poor decisions (or at least questionable ones.) Decisions are part of the growth process. However, God will try to steer us and nudge us into a better choice. And more importantly, we are left to deal with our own messes we make.
What is important to note. We are called into the process of letting children develop and we are called into the process of allowing Christians to mature. growing children is called parenting. Growing Christians is called discipleship. In parenting, rigidity and rules stifles exploration, creativity and more importantly enjoyment of growth. Too much control creates a spirit of rebellion in children; worse yet, a crushing of the spirit.
In discipleship - the same. If we approach people with rules of what is right and what is not right, not allowing them to explore with God what is hoped for them we can take away the enjoyment of growth in Christ, the creativity found in God is stifled. Too much control creates a spirit of rebellion in children; worse yet a crushing of the Spirit; a crushing of their desire to allow the Holy Spirit to move, shape, guide.
Sassy's parents are smart. God, as a parent is the ultimate in wisdom and knowledge. Why do we Christians sometimes feel we need to control what the parent is trying to do? Experiencing life can be messy but messes are ok. But there is also learning in the cleaning up.
Clean up, clean up, every body every where. Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share.
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