determination

watching caleb has made me realise that the LORD makes babies full of beans! Once caleb sees something he wants he becomes very one minded and will do anything to hold it in his hands. He has this mosquito net around his cot and he stretches out his arms as far as possible, pass the bars on his cot, to reach for it. Now he's learning how to roll over from back to tummy, he's flipping his body over so he can get even closer.

It's amazing. Even though he's struggling to get close he never gives up. He hasn't quite learnt how to pull his arm from underneath him once he's flipped over so he ends up rolling back on to his back. Then he tries again. and again. and again. He's so cute. You can hear his breathing as he struggles to turn over. And even if he's exhausted he will rest for a few seconds and then start again! Even frustration doesn't stop him. He just refuses to give up, unless he can't keep his eyes open.

His determination to achieve his goal is amazing. Babies have to learn so much that it's no wonder the LORD made them so determined at this age. Reaching out for things will help him to crawl, walk and run. He wants to explore everything.

I let him try to reach out for things just beyond his arms' length, even if he's getting frustrated at trying. He's learning so much in his efforts that I don't want to rob him of his victory by just getting it for him. Unless he's hurting himself.

I wonder where all that determination goes to? Things become so much easier for us that we don't seem to have that drive when we're older. Or do we as parents knock it out of kids by not letting them touch things and explore their world? It's about balance, yet again!

For now caleb needs to be determined otherwise he won't move on to the next step...crawling, talking, learning more and more. I love watching him learn and enjoy new experiences.