Yes, we were laughing at his expense.  But watching a 6 month old eat solid foods for the first time provided endless mealtimes of entertainment.

My nephew Noah is growing up. 

And he’s only beginning his journey.  His parents will keep giving him new things to try.  He’ll develop the skills and the abilities to eat much better things than watered down cereal and apricots out of a jar.  It will be a long process, but there will come a day when he’s ready to tackle real meat. 

I feel like I’ve been hanging out in the meat department lately.  Not literally (although give me a nice, rare steak and I’m happy), but in life’s meat department.  God has definitely moved me beyond the spiritual milk.  He’s giving me things I really need to chew on. 

And I realized that’s the way it’s supposed to be.  If I am a growing Christian, then I’m supposed to be tackling the meaty things, the things that aren’t spoon fed to me, the things that don’t always go down easily. 

I look at baby Noah and think about how simple his life is right now.  But I know I wouldn’t really want to go back to that kind of simple. 

Meat is more work than milk.  But it’s evidence of maturity and growth and progress. 

So, Lord, while it’s not always easy, keep bringing me the meat.  After the meat comes the dessert.

For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.  But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.   Hebrews 5:13-14

Whom will he teach knowledge?  And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk?   Isaiah 28:9

That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ.  Ephesians 4:14-15

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11