Two weeks ago, my baby started eating cereal appropriate for his age group. My breastmilk is no longer sufficient to nourish his growing body and keep up with his high energy. Although he still needs his breastmilk for nutrition and immunity, complementary feeding is now essential. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development,
“As babies grow, they have nutritional needs that breast milk or infant formula alone cannot meet. Complementary feeding helps meet those nutritional needs. It is also important for infants’ jaw and muscle development and helps them develop speech later”
My baby’s transition from solely needing breastfeeding/breastmilk to complementary feeding is a call to spiritual growth for me. It also reminds me of the scripture where Paul chastised some believers for not growing spiritually.
Hebrews 5:12-14 King James Version (KJV)
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Paul was not only chastising them, he was letting the believers know that there is more. It’s not enough to just believe and accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I must grow in faith and maximize all that God has made available for me. It’s not enough for me to show up in church every Sunday, I must live like Christ everyday. I must grow spiritually. I must search the scriptures, develop a relationship with God, hear from Him directly, and be a teacher of the word through my actions and the words of my lips.
There are mysteries in the Word which God wants to reveal. Are we ready to go deeper? Are we ready to expose ourselves to something deeper/solid like my baby’s digestive system is doing right now?
Milk is easy to digest but solids are not. Am I going to keep playing safe and remain a mediocre in spiritual things? No, I must challenge myself and expose myself to the truth. I need both milk and strong meat of the Word to grow spiritually like my baby needs complementary feeding to grow.
P.S~ I want to hear from you. How’s God speaking to you through your baby’s feeding?
