It could be any time now. Maybe my phone will ring or I’ll get jostled awake while sleeping. Time to go to the hospital—time to have a baby.

It’s hard to believe that in the last year of our lives, my wife and I will have bought our first house, got married, and had a child. Things certainly don’t move slowly in the Crummy household.

Mowing the lawn is one of my favorite times to just let my mind relax. And as I paced back and forth across our yard today, I tried to store the feelings of excitement and nervousness so later I can place myself back at this time to see how God came through. It’s so easy to get swept away in the relentless river of the American dream and not pause to thank God for his mercy and blessing. I really don’t want to be like the Israelites in the Old Testament—repeatedly forgetting God and going their own way.

I don’t deserve any of what I have. My own flesh wants to be selfish with my time, stingy, and lustful. What I really deserve is to pay for my sins for eternity. But because God loves me, he gave me his righteousness as a gift. Each day I ought to fall on my knees and praise the one who daily is kind and patient with me.

God knows that I’m totally inadequate to live for him, love Allie, and raise a family that puts Christ first in all things. I simply ask for help and he quiets my nervous mind and reassures me with Matthew 28:20. “...And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 Sometimes it’s just nice to know that God is also a dad.