This morning I felt the Lord show me myself, once again, through the example of our toddler.
He came into our room so frustrated, because he was trying to put his baby guitar in the carrying case. He had the large part of the guitar going into the large part of the case. However, the problem was, once it got inside, the neck was still sticking out and the case was upside down. In his frustration, he came in and asked, "Can you help?"
"Of course, I can help you!" I said cheerfully as I hopped out of bed to "rescue him".
This was the first we had heard or seen him. Our entire family had slept in (we are in the middle of a nice ice storm and are completely off schedule).
I actually suprised myself with my immediate cheerful response towards him. I saw what he was trying to do. I saw how frustrated he was. I knew the answer. I knew I could help them, and I was anxious to do so as soon as he asked.
I was able to turn the case around, put the smaller neck in first, and then let him zip it up (so he could feel he accomplished it).
That's scenario 1.
Scenario 2.
Not long after, he decided he was going to go outside to play in the ice/snow. He came into the room without a shirt and his winter coat on his arms upside down. He could not figure out how to zip it up. When I offered to help, his reply was, "No, I do it myself." He tried a little longer and at my persistance finally agreed to let me take if off him, put a shirt on (in which we went through the whole thing again as he wanted to button the top buttons himself until I was finally able to help him), and then put his coat back on.
Both of these scenarios were great pictures to me of myself and my relationship with God. I get an idea and try to accomplish it. Oftentimes, I become very frustrated as it is not working. When I go to God and ask, "Can you help?", He must be SO excited to jump in and intervene at my request. He can see the thing I am doing from an entirely different angle, it's a simple fix for Him, He can simply turn things around or add something to my situation to make it workable.
I also imagined the compassion He must have for me when I insist on doing it myself. He waits patiently for me to give in to His leading and availability to help. Many times, he jumps in and shows me He is there and when I finally just relax, let go, and let Him take over, my goals get accomplished much faster and with a lot less frustration.
So, whether your trying to put something in your life together the wrong way, or you have something backwards, don't wait until you are exasperated! Don't labor needlessly. Go to God and ask Him for help and then take your hands off and let Him lavish His love and wisdom on you.
If I can love my son this much, than I can imagine that God must love us even more! I should never be ashamed to come to Him for help. He knows I am limited in my knowledge and skills. He is eager to step in and assist - even when I have not said "Good Morning" to Him yet.
I did not hold it against my son that he just jumped right out of bed with a mission on his mind. Though I love when he wakes up and brings his pillows and blankets and jumps straight into our bed to snuggle, I understand he's just a toddler.
Scripture References Coming To Mind as I wrote this:
"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:11 - NIV)
"God is our reguge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalms 46:1
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
RR 02/03/11
He came into our room so frustrated, because he was trying to put his baby guitar in the carrying case. He had the large part of the guitar going into the large part of the case. However, the problem was, once it got inside, the neck was still sticking out and the case was upside down. In his frustration, he came in and asked, "Can you help?"
"Of course, I can help you!" I said cheerfully as I hopped out of bed to "rescue him".
This was the first we had heard or seen him. Our entire family had slept in (we are in the middle of a nice ice storm and are completely off schedule).
I actually suprised myself with my immediate cheerful response towards him. I saw what he was trying to do. I saw how frustrated he was. I knew the answer. I knew I could help them, and I was anxious to do so as soon as he asked.
I was able to turn the case around, put the smaller neck in first, and then let him zip it up (so he could feel he accomplished it).
That's scenario 1.
Scenario 2.
Not long after, he decided he was going to go outside to play in the ice/snow. He came into the room without a shirt and his winter coat on his arms upside down. He could not figure out how to zip it up. When I offered to help, his reply was, "No, I do it myself." He tried a little longer and at my persistance finally agreed to let me take if off him, put a shirt on (in which we went through the whole thing again as he wanted to button the top buttons himself until I was finally able to help him), and then put his coat back on.
Both of these scenarios were great pictures to me of myself and my relationship with God. I get an idea and try to accomplish it. Oftentimes, I become very frustrated as it is not working. When I go to God and ask, "Can you help?", He must be SO excited to jump in and intervene at my request. He can see the thing I am doing from an entirely different angle, it's a simple fix for Him, He can simply turn things around or add something to my situation to make it workable.
I also imagined the compassion He must have for me when I insist on doing it myself. He waits patiently for me to give in to His leading and availability to help. Many times, he jumps in and shows me He is there and when I finally just relax, let go, and let Him take over, my goals get accomplished much faster and with a lot less frustration.
So, whether your trying to put something in your life together the wrong way, or you have something backwards, don't wait until you are exasperated! Don't labor needlessly. Go to God and ask Him for help and then take your hands off and let Him lavish His love and wisdom on you.
If I can love my son this much, than I can imagine that God must love us even more! I should never be ashamed to come to Him for help. He knows I am limited in my knowledge and skills. He is eager to step in and assist - even when I have not said "Good Morning" to Him yet.
I did not hold it against my son that he just jumped right out of bed with a mission on his mind. Though I love when he wakes up and brings his pillows and blankets and jumps straight into our bed to snuggle, I understand he's just a toddler.
Scripture References Coming To Mind as I wrote this:
"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:11 - NIV)
"God is our reguge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalms 46:1
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
RR 02/03/11
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