Get well soon, Son!

It is Day 6 of Sethia's frequent bowel movements. Doctor at ED said this condition will likely be remedied with time. I am still very anxious. How long can the extended period of time be for this condition to persist? I am definitely remarkably "unskilled" at waiting for him to get back to normal...

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.(Lam 3:26)

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.(Psa. 5:3)

Mucus in Baby's Stool
Signs of Teething Diarrhea in Young Infants
Diarrhea (Baby Center)

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

Dear friends,

Husband suffers from subconjunctival hemorrhage; it has no serious health complications but looking at his bright red eye makes me nervous. :( Covet your prayers for his eye recovery, which is essential for his work which requires much writing and reading.

He is a bad preacher who does not commence his ministry at home

Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. (Joel 1:3)

In this simple way, by God’s grace, a living testimony for truth is always to be kept alive in the land - the beloved of the Lord are to hand down their witness for the gospel, and the covenant to their heirs, and these again to their next descendants.

This is our first duty, we are to begin at the family hearth: he is a bad preacher who does not commence his ministry at home. The heathen are to be sought by all means, and the highways and hedges are to be searched, but home has a prior claim, and woe unto those who reverse the order of the Lord’s arrangements.

To teach our children is a personal duty; we cannot delegate it to Sunday school teachers, or other friendly aids; these can assist us, but cannot deliver us from the sacred obligation; proxies and sponsors are wicked devices in this case: mothers and fathers must, like Abraham, command their households in the fear of God, and talk with their offspring concerning the wondrous works of the Most High.

Parental teaching is a natural duty - who so fit to look to the child’s well-being as those who are the authors of his actual being? To neglect the instruction of our offspring is worse than brutish.

Family religion is necessary for the nation, for the family itself, and for the church of God. By a thousand plots irreligion is covertly advancing in our land, and one of the most effectual means for resisting its inroads is left almost neglected, namely, the instruction of children in the faith. Would that parents would awaken to a sense of the importance of this matter.

It is a pleasant duty to talk of Jesus to our sons and daughters, and the more so because it has often proved to be an accepted work, for God has saved the children through the parents’ prayers and admonitions. May every house into which this volume shall come honour the Lord and receive his smile.

C.H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

Feminine Thread: Women in the Tapestry of Christian History

"What women these Christians have!" - Libanius, 4th century teacher of rhetoric

Feminine Thread

She riseth also while it is yet night; her candle goeth not out by night. (Prov. 31: 15 & 17)

"That which is best worthy of love in thy husband is that of the image of Christ he bears. Look on that, and love it best, and all the rest for that." - Oliver Cromwell, in his letter dated October 25, 1646, to his married daughter

To grow in stature and wisdom

At four months and four days Sethia is sitting supported on a sofa by himself. :)

I like to keep watch and monitor over Sethia's growth, and I find joy in seeing him grow. I think all mothers (or parents, rather) can relate themselves with me. :) Why do I want him to grow so much?

I then mused to myself, why does God want me to grow? My growth in Him, to be Christlike, just gives great pleasure to Him. My single step to grow, whether small or great, is pleasing to Him. C.S. Lewis writes in one of his books, "He [God] wants them [us, Christians] to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is even pleased with their stumbles." I believe this kind of sentiments and tender affections I will also find in me when Sethia is finally learning to walk, God willing.

In my short journey as a mother with Sethia, I also encountered periods named "growth spurts". Often during these periods, many many adjustments had to be made, where what used to be normal was suddenly not normal anymore. It was often chaotic and frustrating. Looking at these, at once my Christian life experiences made sense all over again. When life was tough and confusing, God perhaps was granting me an opportunity for a 'growth spurt' in Him – if only I was willing.

I have also quite religiously followed Baby Center, a popular parenting online site, to see what can I expect from Sethia. It is amazing to read how a mere infant will progress at each month of his life, and witness it happen to my son. It is also to my relief to read at the end of every section a caution: "Remember: Each baby develops at a different pace." This is true, every baby is a unique individual, who will grow differently from one another. But as I comprehend it, Christians are called differently to be even more unique. Instead of being a 'unique' individual, who is encouraged to 'just be yourself', a Christian is to grow to be uniquely Christlike. This and this alone will be his identity.

And so this will also be our prayers for our little Sethia, not for him to just grow, but to grow in stature and wisdom to be pleasing to both God and men - just like Christ Jesus. May God grant our prayers.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man (Luk 2:52).

In developing countries the seed of the serpent will attempt to destroy the seed of the woman through physical persecution. In developed countries the persecution against the seed of the woman is done through the world of ideas (Gen. 3:15). - Adi Kurniawan

Ear pulling VS Ear infection, Heat rash VS Eczema

Dear mothers,

Q: Sethia has been pulling on his ears a lot. How do I know whether he has an ear infection, started teething, or simply found his ears? Thank you for your insights. :)

A: Dulu Alex juga suka gitu, Grace. Sampe kadang kecakar kuku nya and tergores telinga nya. Normal sih, ada yg bilang kalo itu gejala teething =) Just make sure that his nails are short and not sharp =)

Kalo ear infection, biasanya ada fever, running nose or smelly liquid keluar dr telinga. So kalo Sethia ga nangis2 tanpa sebab and ga ada
gejala2 yg saya sebut di atas than seharusnya sih OK and normal =)

Hope it helps =)

- Sofia

A. Selama ga fever, ato nangis2 gitu should b okay grace, mungkin dia explore aja.

- Indah

Ear pulling VS Ear infection. Also, here.

Trondheim's summer this year is rather mild; I believe it is of an average of 13 deg C. However, Sethia has been sweating a lot especially on hot days of 28 deg C even though he is already wearing clothing very lightly and minimally. He also has heat rashes spreading on both cheeks. In this Baby Center link I read directions on how to treat heat rash, but I would appreciate it if you can suggest other ways - esp. more traditional treatments if there are any. Thanks a lot! :)

Heat rash VS Eczema.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. (Prov. 31:27)

Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. (Psa 26:2)

Families eating together

Families eating together.

Turn, Seth, turn!

An update to Yeye Nainai: reaching out to colourful rings during tummy-time

"Yeye, Nainai! Ini Sethia, yg dgn tangkas meraih gelang warna-warni. Sethia sdh cukup konsisten melakukannya di setiap sesi olahraga tummy-time. Setelah itu Sethia capek & langsung tidur."

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. (Prov 31:26)