Hold On Tight
A fond memory of all my kids when they were newborns is their hands tightly gripping my thumb. Whether they were feeding, sleeping, or holding them, I would place my thumb in their hand, and they would firmly grip my thumb and not let go. According to board-certified pediatricians, babies clench their fists for various reasons.
This normal behavior is due to a neurologic reflex called palmar grasp. The palmar grasp is a reflex that is activated when something is pushed into a newborn’s palm, like a caregiver’s finger. It’s an instinctual reflex that mirrors the baby’s curled position in the womb.
Doctors also believe babies clench their fists when they’re hungry or stressed. Because they’re developing, babies use this and other gestures to communicate with their caregivers. Outside of the familiar mother’s womb, this new world can be a scary world full of new sights, sounds, smells, and feelings.
This wonderful, instinctual nature of babies is an excellent example of how we’re to hold on tightly to our heavenly father in this strange and stressful world. Scripture tells us that when we’re “born again,” like a newborn baby, we’re a new creation in Christ. As a result, we should desire the “milk” of the Word and the care necessary to grow spiritually (1 Peter 2:1-3).
Daily Directive:
Answer and Journal the Following
Read:
Matthew 18:2-4
And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Pray:
Pray to hold on tight to God and his promises.
Meditate / Make It Real:
Contemplate and meditate on or memorize the passage. What is God saying to you? Then, determine what you will do with what you’ve learned.
Share / Show:
Share and show what you’ve learned with someone else.
