Lessons from fatherhood – II

Thumb/finger sucking!

I’m not sure when she actually started her thumb sucking, but what started as an innocuous thumb sucking has now bloomed into obnoxious hand (sometimes even fist) sucking. While medicine says that finger sucking is a normal activity in infants, it should be considered a problem only if it persists beyond 3-4 years. Although normal for her age, Faith’s (my baby girl’s) finger sucking has definitely taught me couple of life lessons.

Firstly, finger sucking is a non-nutritious activity; in our lives when God has ordained for us a nutritious food at a scheduled time, we are caught sucking our fingers, trying to satisfy our hunger ourselves. Instead of readying and developing an appetite for what God has in store for us, we run around in circles trying to have it our way (very much like the baby sucking on her fingers).
Secondly, finger sucking is also a grim imagery of our impatience. Instead of “in His time”, we want it right now, and that causes us to rely on our own wisdom and strength (read- sucking fingers).

Sometimes I wonder if Faith would develop scales (just like the fishes) on her fingers, due to constant exposure to wet environment! Finger sucking also has the risk of introducing unwanted germs into the mouth, in a similar vein when stray away from what God has in store for us we invite unwanted troubles for ourselves.

Among the other deleterious effects is that, finger sucking can cause baby to gag and vomit too. Not only is the finger sucking non-nutritious and the “not-so-cute” part of bringing up a baby/child, it can also cause baby to gag and vomit the precious feed received from the mother. Excessive finger sucking can also cause baby to lose appetite for the mother’s milk, same thing that happens to us when we lose appetite for God when we’ll filled ourselves with the junk of having it or way.

As for my baby Faith, finger sucking is normal and I won’t punish her for that except dissuade her in gentle ways as I can; but for us adults it is essential and beneficial to be led by the finger of God than trying to suck on our own strength.

May we never forget that the God who promised the promise-land also provides the manna in the wilderness.

Our finger sucking (relying on our own strength) can pacify us (but for a moment) but only Jesus can satisfy us.