The kids are 5 months old already! As they grow and develop, we upgrade their housing area. The babies graduated from the kidding pen where they were born, to a Pack&Play in our house, to the garage pen, to the kid pen in the backyard, and to the big girl pen inside the main pasture.
Currently, Allie, Meg, Lacey and Grace, spend their days free ranging in the pasture with the adult does, and nights in a separate shelter. The next step is full access to the adult pasture and shelter day and night. I am careful not to move them until they are ready.
I observe the interactions among the kids and adults in the pasture. What I see now is “parallel play”. The kids graze and play alongside the adults but they don’t interact. In fact, the adults will keep them at a distance with some firm pushing and gentle head butting if the kids get too close. So for now, the kids are watching and learning from a distance.
I will release the kids into the main pasture full time when I observe the development from parallel to “cooperative play”. When the goats interact, play, teach and establish boundaries so they exist as one community – then I will know that everyone will have free access to food, water and shelter.
Physical, social, spiritual maturation is a slow process. It’s not something that happens overnight or in a “ah-ha” moment. Growing in Christ requires commitment over a life time of trials, challenges and celebrations. As we remain faithful and rooted in Him, we can trust that God will bring us exactly what we need when we need it – and when we are ready to handle it.
When we are in the parallel play level of spiritual development, we are learning and gleaning as much as possible from Him, His word, and the Godly people in our circles. We are watching and applying truths. We practice faithfulness by being obedient.
As we commit to living for Him, we move closer to His heart – and the parallel play matures to cooperative play. Our focus isn’t on ourselves as we seek His face. We hear and recognize His voice. Our prayers “to Him” become beautiful dialogues “with Him”. His light shines on the paths He wants us to explore and He walks with us along the way.
What a beautiful place to be: in His presence, in unity with His spirit, in His will and sure of His calling! How are you doing? Are you ready for the “upgrade” – to move into a new level of your relationship with Him? I’m praying for you today!
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparable great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:17-19.
