Aj Schwanz

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend a baby shower of a dear friend (and birthday buddy).  Her little girl will be born sometime in the next six weeks, maybe sooner, maybe later:  these infants just aren’t so good at sharing specific details.

I brought Judah with me, partly to give the husband a break, and partly to include him in something I consider to be a sort of Rite of Passage (for the baby:  she’ll be passaging soon).  Judah learns about food preparation as I meal plan, and he learns about cultural/heritage type of things as I include him in events such as baby showers.  He asked whose birthday party it was, and I said, “Well, it’s a sort of “early” birthday party for Miss EllaMae,” and went from there, why she was an important person in our lives, why we celebrate births, etc.

In the past I never would have thought to bring him, but recently Judah’s learning to sit:  to play:  to talk with other adults.  The hosts were gracious and gave him toys, but mostly he enjoyed handing the presents to the Mama-to-Be.

The host, the grandmother-to-be, started off the gathering by stating she doesn’t “do” baby shower games:  phew.  Instead, she chose to hand out advice cards for her daughter.  We were supposed to write down (on a tiny index card) all of our fount of wisdon and knowledge and experience.  Or at least our phone numbers where we were most easily reached. 

I couldn’t think of advice to give:  my brain is too foggy from that time period of infantdom (thankfully:  that’s why we have two kids).  So I changed my card into a card of blessing.  For me, blessings speak to the hope of a future.  They move me out of the present moment into thinking of the bigger picture.  And when I read them as time passes, I see how God is faithful in being present in those blessings.

Advice is often given more than blessings today; was it that way in Old Testament days?

We talked about the difference between the words joy, happiness, and blessing at Bible Study, but I don’t know that we came to a clear picture of each.  “Be happy when you can; be joyful always” – Graham Cooke.  That was my offering.

What would happen if blessings were bestowed more than advice?