I don’t know what it’s like to be a middle child.
I know about the stereotype, of course. “The oldest child gets all the awards, the youngest gets all the love, the middle gets nothing,” and all that. I have a middle child. My middle daughter and I spend a lot of time together. We talk and read and go for outings and adventures. I want her to know my love for her isn’t a share of what’s available for the three kids. I always try to remind her that I love her with all the love I have for her. So, I don’t think the stereotype is true of her experience. I certainly hope it’s not, anyway. I’m sure she’ll tell me eventually.
But I have to wonder what it’s like for people who have legitimate baggage from life as a middle kid coming into the Christian faith. How does it affect their relationship with God as their Father? Do they struggle to believe He actually cares about them—in a different way than we all do? Do they believe their prayers and needs are less important than someone else’s? Like I said, I have no idea. But I do know this: in God’s family, there are no middle children.
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote:
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:27-29)
There is so much good news here, isn’t there? You and I, no matter our history, gender or ethnicity, are all equal in Christ. We are “one in Christ Jesus.” In Jesus, we are equal before God, with no restriction or limitations on His love for us.
The Father’s affection for each of us is always more than we can imagine. He always has time to hear from each one of us. No problem is too big or too small. No need is too insignificant. In Christ, there are no middle kids. He loves us with all the love He has for us. And that love is infinite.
