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Modern technology has produced some wonderful things, even these infant carriers that can double as child car safety seats.  I am sure they have saved an unbelievable amount of lives.

However, I believe that much like other "modern inventions" we have taken these infant carriers to a use a few steps farther than they were intended, or as my Daddy used to say, they are "too much of a good thing".

Are these plastic contraptions replacing mothers arms, at a time when we are already spending less and less time with our children?

What made me think of this and put it all together, after couple number two left, was looking at a picture of my young niece, Isabella, which was sitting on the shelf in my living room.

I began thinking of how thoroughly my sister has accepted her role as mother.

And now I am wondering?  Do all those hours and hours with strangers in nurseries have the beginning effect of "no one cares about me, especially not Jesus?"  Is the lack of deep concern or complete involvement a detriment that starts in these childrens’ lives so young that they know of nothing else?

So when we expect our children to grasp our "ideals" as teenagers and young adults, they look at us like, "Where were you and what do you care?" "Why should I believe anything you have to say?" "These other uncompassionate, uncaring, disinterested friends of mine are more comfortable to me, since they are exactly like me".

It seems these children are not the CENTER or FOCUS of even the mother.  They are simply extra appendages to be "managed", not even considered "flesh of our flesh and bone of our bones", a living human being brought forth by the union of two --- a young soul that not only NEEDS but CRAVES the assurance of a mothers and/or fathers constant attention, care and concern, especially when in a strange place, or when hurt, or when surrounded by people they do not know.

I remember very clearly being in my early 20’s with 2 children under 2. But I physically carried them, I held them in my arms, which created an almost unbreakable bond, even after number 2 was born.  Being a mother changes you from being a disinterested third party, to the center of someone’s world.....their very security.

I have been known to say many, many times, even now when 2 of my children are grown and gone, that "I am a magnet".  Any room I am in --- they are all in there- right beside me or under my feet- the same is also true of our dog and cat.

I am these living creatures main nurturer AND THEY KNOW IT because I also have always taken that role seriously.  And my children KNEW that, KNOW that, FELT that and still know it to this day.  I give them undivided devotion and security and they return to me for affirmation of the same --- so they in turn can give it to others around THEM.

Case in point --- the little boy whose nose was bleeding was only 1 year younger than Caleb. Caleb reached out, comforted that little boy and attempted to take care of his immediate needs by running for a wet washcloth, while Mom and Dad kept apologizing for the mess and pretty much just wanted the incident to be over with and for him to be quiet and quit crying.

Caleb is 7 and is a nurturer.  He does not want someone else to hurt.  It is my very firm belief that children will only nurture to the degree that they have been nurtured.

I have seen my older two children, Emily and Evan, do the same thing with stray cats, dogs, birds and even stray neighbor children.  I have seen my older children help others in some very unusual ways.  Even to the point of caring for others whose parents were not home, by bringing them in and "sharing" their snacks and drinks with them.  The other children in turn shared some other not so desirable things with us, such as lice, but the greater goal of nurturing was more important in the long run.  I was home to buy and use the lice treatment.

My older children have also strayed away from God for periods of time, but they BOTH came back, to the Supreme Nurturer, I pray  because they had a mother ( and ONLY a mother for many years) who treated them as her main concern, much like MY mother did for me. There are many things to pass it along to each generation. The Bible even speaks of this in Deut, Proverbs and Psalms. This past nurturing and constant, fervent prayer were both integral in my older children’s return to God.

My question is this: If we abandon our duty as nurturers in the name of duty or ministry, or God forbid, money or success,  who will portray the Ultimate Nurturer to our children? --- so when they need nurtured --- THEY will turn back to HIM, who first loved them?  Or will they turn to a stranger?  Someone they should not trust --- someone who doesn’t nurture because they didn’t have it when they were young? Perhaps even to the devil or one of his agents here on this planet?

NONE of my children are whiney, clingy, cloying, scared adults.  They ALL show an independence that surprises even me.  I don’t believe nurturing a child properly, the way God spells out in the Bible, creates clinging vine children, because the security of knowing the nurturing is there creates an independence they will be secure in and pass on, even unknowingly, to others.

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