What I've Learned from Aiden

On May 22, 2019, my life changed forever. My wife and I welcomed our firstborn son Aiden into this world. In my opinion, having a child more fundamentally changes one's life than getting married. This is something that is learned after the fact, although plenty of authors warned of the immense change that would result from becoming parents.

This change has not been wholly bad, as change is seldom obviously good or obviously bad. The bad is not wicked or evil, but simply inconvenient: erratic sleeping schedules (mostly for the mother), changing dirty diapers, more expenses. But, far and away, the good outweighs the bad. Sure, becoming a father has been challenging, but it is worth every difficulty.

Through the process of beginning to parent a son, I have learned many valuable lessons. In a sense, Aiden has taught me so much, and I hope to reciprocate his involuntary benevolence some day in the future.

One thing that Aiden has taught me is that fatherhood, like many of life's greatest blessings, must be experienced personally in order to learn better about it. Prior to his loud entrance into God's precious creation, I had read a number of helpful books on the subject of becoming a dad. I had listened to wise teachers who offered advice and instruction. I had spoken with numerous fathers who extended both their solicited and their unsolicited counsel. But nothing could have replaced the experience of becoming a dad myself.

In other words, fatherhood is not something for which there is a substitute. It must be experienced firsthand, or else this lesson will never be truly learned.

Aiden has also contributed to a growing sense of dependency on God. Perhaps it is a byproduct of living in America, but I (and I am certain that I am not alone) have a healthy dose of independence. I often feel as if I can meet my own needs by myself. And this might be occasionally accurate. However, complete independence should not be the permanent status of believers. We must learn to trust God, to depend upon him for our needs. 

And very few things can awaken our realization that we really do depend upon the Lord for everything like holding a newborn child in your arms and knowing that its survival is contingent upon you and your spouse. It was quite intimidating to cradle Aiden, who was merely minutes old, and think about the overwhelming truth that he is my son and that I must provide for his needs. And that I can't provide for his needs without the continuing strength and support of my heavenly Father. 

I could extend this list of lessons indefinitely, but I must hasten to a final one. Aiden has taught me to focus on the important things in life. I firmly believe that the family is God's idea. Satan, the great antagonist of human history, grasps the tremendous potential of holy, healthy, and happy homes, so he strives daily to undermine this God-ordained institution. One of his many machinations is to create diversions that would lead families to prioritize less important matters, such as careers and hobbies, over more important matters.

Although I would be the first to admit that I have failed miserably in this regard, I have become acutely aware that the family is so, so vital. Witnessing the devastation brought about by the success of Satan's schemes instills within me a greater desire to see God bless my family and protect us from the evil one. And God's will for my family can best be fulfilled if I rightly prioritize the family above the more transient trinkets of contemporary culture. 

Those are three lessons that I've learned from Aiden. Think over your life. Maybe somebody, like a child (it doesn't have to be your own), has taught valuable lessons, but you have been missing them. Don't let wisdom dwell next to you without receiving and benefiting from it.