You would just love our second granddaughter, Avery Elaine. She is wiry, white blonde, bold, sassy, independent, and pronounces the letter“l” as if it were a “w”- “I wuv you Mimi and Pop.” She is as cute as a button! I tend to empathize with Avery; she is in the middle between two red-headed sisters, the oldest and the baby, and an older brother. I myself fell between an older sister and the first and only boy, then eight years behind me, my baby sister. I have observed that Avery is trying to jockey for position in the family like I did growing up. She is more emotional, more dramatic, and more sensitive – all, I believe, in an attempt to establish her place and of course sometimes for attention! Avery spent a Friday afternoon and night with us recently. As she entered our home, her Pop said to her, “Welcome Avery to Mimi and Pop’s house, where you can do anything you want!” To which she just grinned. Now that statement wasn’t completely true, we do have a few rules! Just a few! After all we are grandparents!
She seemed to devour the individual time and attention. We went for frozen yogurt and then to Build-a-Bear to get a stuffed dog she had her eye on. Her mom called that evening and asked how she was doing. I told her that she was doing great! She said the other two girls were sad and really missed her. I commented that she had not mentioned them at all and was having a great time. The evening was filled with her favorite pasta for dinner, playing house, school, and grocery store – complete with electric adding machine, watching the movie of her choice, and going to bed later than normal. Oh, I almost forgot reading four books before bed and letting her go to bed with her favorite flashlight in order that she could look at her books after the lights were turned out! She was certainly ranking #1 at Mimi and Pop’s house!
Finding our place can often be difficult whether in families, school settings, or social settings. For years, even as an adult, I struggled with this in relation to my own family. But, just recently as I was thinking about Avery and praying for her, the Lord brought scripture to my mind that was a reminder of our position, our place in Christ, and just how treasured we are as one of His children. That morning the Father was speaking to me and reminding me that I have my special place and that that place is with Him, as his treasured possession – His child! I am not in competition with any one; I am special because I am His.
Over the years several books have been written about the topic of “birth order” making an attempt to explain different personalities based on a person’s position within a family. Our oldest daughter read such a book and said it was helpful in not only understanding her children, but her husband and herself. It’s an interesting read and study, but thankfully with God, there’s no specific birth order- all His children are equal and all are special! In His family there’s no need to be jockeying for position! We are each accepted, loved, and treasured by our heavenly Father who created us, understands us, and loves us unconditionally!
As Avery grows and matures, she will settle into her place within her family and realize just how special and unique she is – as are her siblings! As you and I grow in our relationship with Christ we come to realize just how unique and special we are because we are children of the Most High God. What a position; what a birth order!
Father, I want to thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you that there is nothing I must do to receive your love and acceptance. I am so grateful that I don’t have to jockey for position in your family. Thank you that I am Your child, #1, special, and treasured by You, my Abba. I pray I will always be pleasing to You and honoring to the sacrifice your Son made that I might be Your child, Your treasured possession.
“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons (daughters) of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons (daughters) by which we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children of God, heirs ALSO, HEIRS OF God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may be glorified with Him.” Romans 8:14-17
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession.” Deuteronomy 7:6
Dianne