Dear grandchild, You must be born again

Dear grandchild, 

For months I have prayed for you in anticipation of you being born. Today, upon your arrival, I started praying that you will soon be born again.

Your arrival has brought such joy to our whole family. We are all thanking God for how healthy, sweet, precious, and gorgeous you are. We can’t take our eyes off of you. You have already prompted tears of joy, many smiles, and lots of laughter. Your family has stopped all other activity just to get close enough to hold you, comfort you, and care for you. You are so welcomed, adored, treasured, and loved just the way you are. 

But the way you are is a problem. You were born a natural born sinner. Brutal thing to say to someone born with an abundance of cuteness. But your cuteness can’t conceal your corruptness. 

Sorry to have to tell you but this sin problem runs in the family. I got it from your grandparents. Your mom got it from me. And, well, she and your dad infected you. It’s called the S.I.N virus. That’s an acronym for Self-Ish-Ness. You were born into this world addicted to yourself and allergic to God.

I’m pretty sure you have already discovered the world you have entered into is infected with sin. I know that because, after taking your first breath, you protested your arrival on this planet with five hours of crying. 

I don’t blame you. For nine months you were safely cocooned, nothing to complain about. Warm, well nourished, no temptation, no triggers. But suddenly this world began to squeeze you. Heads up–it won’t stop. Until your departure, you will spend the rest of your days living on a fallen planet surrounded by loving, but fallen caregivers who will protest your protests, fail to meet your demands, and fail to remove every trigger. Sorry, we sinners agitate other sinners, even those we love so dearly like you. 

Your next five hours were more peaceful. You slept…like a baby. You soon discovered living in this world is exhausting. That’s pretty much what you can expect–a rhythm of hours of crying followed by hours of sleep. That’s the sad reality for all of us who have been granted the gift of being born. 

But there is good news. There is another gift. You can be born again. In fact, you must be in order to see the kingdom of God. Yes, there is a kingdom with a King who never disappoints. His name is Jesus and he loves you more than anyone you will ever meet. He loves you so much he was willing to go through that messy process you just experienced. Even though he lived in a place where there is no crying, he left it to come here and experience the pain you are feeling. He not only felt the pain, he experienced the source of it—your sin and mine. At the end of his life, he endured an even messier process you will never have to experience if you are born again.

This world belongs to him. But you have yet to experience it the way that he originally made it. He will come again soon to fix it and gift to those who have been born again. It took me 15 trips around the sun to believe it. I’m praying you will believe this good news much sooner than I did.

I have always thought the perfect gift for every newborn baby like you would be a onesie with “Dirty Rotten Sinner” printed on one side and “Preach the gospel to me!” on the other. I wanted to get that for you but I just don’t think your mom will let you wear it in public. 

Just know that I will be here to periodically remind you of what I said on the day you were born. You must be born again. 

Love, Pops.