Pride of a Pastor Mom

Briggs and I are celebrating 15 months today, and I've been catching myself thinking about how truly proud I am of what he's accomplished in this short span of time- transforming from a helpless babe to an active and adorable toddler. And yet that tricky word "pride" often catches us Christians in an odd way. We realize that Jesus teaches us to assume attitudes opposite of pride (i.e. humility), yet as parents we intrinsically know that Jesus wants us to be proud of our children. So what's the catch?

Maybe only Pastor Moms contemplate these issues, I'm not sure. But as I've been thinking, I've come to realize a few things about the type of "pride" I feel on behalf of my son, and it is in fact akin to humility; thus, it's not likely the type of "pride" Jesus speaks against in the Gospel.

Here's what I mean.

I'm proud of the way my son is gaining his independence (like how he toddles away from mommy, returns for a quick hug, and ventures off again), trying new things (like how he insists on feeding himself with a spoon and sorting his food according to categories from least to most appetizing), and modeling all of daddy's mannerisms and behaviors (like propping his feet up as he reclines, combing his own hair, and mimicking funny noises).

And yet all of these burgeoning behaviors requires a certain humility on the part of a mother. Briggs is (too) quickly becoming his own personality, demonstrating preferences that aren't my own :), and testing my patience with each new streak of independence. All the while, I'm left re-adjusting the care-giving bond I created with Briggs when he was brand new to this world. The bond I worked SO HARD at, the bond that took my every effort for several months. And to re-adjust that bond, making room for Briggs to become the person God fashioned from the beginning, that's the most humbling act required of me in my (almost) 30-year existence.

And in spite of how hard it can be to let go, I am SO PROUD of Briggs. This is why I know the type of pride I feel is not antithetical to the humility Jesus requires of his followers. Another way I know this pride is not rooted in selfish gloating, is because I do not reserve my pride for my own son. I beam with pride as I see all children, related to me or not, grow into the little people (and eventually big people) God created for this world.

All of God's children are special, unique... not because of anything awesome they do, but because of who created them. And so as I display pride with each new developmental milestone Briggs reaches, I am certain that the God who created him is beaming with pride as well.

First encounter with Grandpa and Grandma's animals