“More!”

We’ve been attempting to teach our one-year-old a little bit of “baby sign language” in order to give him a little more ability to communicate and to ease some of the frustration that arises from wanting to say, “No, I don’t want green beans; I want Cheerios!” but not having any clue as to how to get that message through to his parents. Until recently, our teaching efforts were met with smiles and sparkling eyes, the occasional arm-flailing or hand-clapping, but not much else. In the past month or so, however, a few signs have been “clicking” with him. It’s been a joy to watch him do a sign for “bumblebee,” another for “so big,” and to see him identify his own head, belly, and toes on command.

But last week, he learned a new — and very powerful — sign: the sign for “More.” Ah, now that’s more like it. Now he can make some things very clear to us: More milk! More cheese! And the ever-present: More Cheerios!

I’m very grateful that he’s learned this sign, since it certainly makes things easier as I attempt to interpret “eh? eh? eh?” as he squirms in his high chair. But at the same time, I know that as he grows, I’ll hear “More” in more contexts than I want to. More toys! More candy! More, more, more! I know this is natural — he’s only human — and that one of my jobs as a mother is to help him identify which desires for “more” are legitimate and which ones need to be curbed.

But to be honest, I am often in need of a refresher course in that little lesson myself. How many of my “more” requests need to be curbed? How often do I cry out “More!” when I should be content? How often do I feel like what I’ve been given isn’t quite enough? How often is my focus on what I want and how nice it would be just have a teeny bit more money, a smidge more me-time, or a little more space? Too often, I’m afraid.

There’s one cry for more, though, that is always legitimate, always right, always acceptable: Asking for more of God. I love what Paul says in Ephesians 3:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

– Ephesians 3:16-19

Wow. I think I could spend a lifetime trying to grasp the expanse of Christ’s love, and another lifetime seeking to be completely filled to overflowing with “the fullness of God.” And I think that’s what He has in mind. God wants us to spend our time, our focus, and our mental energy seeking more of Him. I can’t think of any “more” that is more worthwhile.

Dear Heavenly Father, I think you for your love — for its width and length and height and depth! I thank you that you long to show us your love and to reveal more of yourself to us. I pray that everyone who reads these words would receive more of you today, that you would touch each one in a special way. Help us to put aside our desires for “more” of what this world offers, and seek more of you, every day, every moment. Amen.