Our little man got circumcised tonight. Because he wasn't born in the hospital, we had to schedule it a little later than is typically done these days. Babies' blood begins to clot on their 7th day of life, so it is typically recommended that baby boys are circumcised after their seventh day of life. So that's what we did.
We had a rabbi (mohel) do his circumcision. From what we had heard and read, it seemed that the procedure done by this particular rabbi would be the quickest and easiest for our little man. It was extremely quick...but it wasn't easy, especially for me. Being a mom is hard on the heart.
While with the rabbi, I asked him if he did circumcisions all the time. He said no, he works with teenagers. He said the circumcisions pay the bills.
And then he did something that really struck me.
"When I work with the teenagers, I'm not circumcising them physically. I'm circumcising their hearts."
We didn't circumcise for religious reasons. But this statement is ringing in my mind. I understand, at least to some extend, the symbol of circumcision in Jewish life. It sets the Jewish people apart for their God...and serves as a reminder of their covenant with Him.
But what value is physical circumcision if the heart of the man isn't also circumcised before the Lord?
I pray that my children will not only wear the physical signs of their faith in their outward appearance...in the words they say and the things they do. I pray that their hearts would be completely set apart before the Lord.
Circumcise the hearts of my children, Father.
