I was having a snack with my almost 5 year old daughter this afternoon. She chose a small bag of Cheetos and naturally I reached over to help her open the package. She snatched it away from me saying, "I can do it all by myself! I am big now, Mommy." I went back to my snack and let her be a big girl. I couldn't help but notice, though, she was really struggling with that bag of chips. She pulled this way and that way but the bag just wouldn't budge. She struggled a minute, and after what felt like forever to me she finally conceded, "Well, maybe this time you will have to help me just a little bit." I just wanted to hug her, and I did, after I helped her open her bag.
Isn't it funny that it is in those seemingly insignificant everyday occurrences the Lord speaks to me so profoundly. So many times I have approached the task at hand, and although I may not tell the Lord outright that I can handle things on my own, I say it through my independence and omission of prayer. He doesn't force His will on me or laugh at my misguided confidence in my own abilities. Instead, He waits.
Sometimes things go okay but I don't feel the joy I thought I would, but more often than not things go horribly wrong and I realize how much I needed my Heavenly Father. The very moment I confess this and turn to Him, He is there. He doesn't say, "I told you so," and He doesn't turn His back to teach me a lesson. He opens His arms and lovingly covers me with His grace and faithfully restores the situation.
Love it Amber
ReplyDeleteAs always... incredible moving!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! I've been appreciating this very thing recently--how being a parent helps one realize and appreciate how the Father cares for us. Thank you for sharing, Amber!
ReplyDeleteGod so often uses small children to teach big truths! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower. If you'd like to check out my site, it's Bible Love Notes, one-minute devotions for women (http://biblelovenotes.com)
Gail
Beautiful...and something I needed to hear. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYour daughter sounds just like my two-and-a-half-year-old. She is stubborn like that and only after 15 minutes of grappling with someone she can't open will she relent and let Mommy help. You are right that that is exactly how we are with God. Instead of running immediately to Him when I need help, I try to fix it myself and usually mess things up even worse than before! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I love the "He doesn't say I told you so"
ReplyDeleteMom won't say I told you so, either--this time! I love what you have become in the Lord; maybe the best treasure a Mom can have is that her very own and very special daughter can give herself to the Lord in a way that allows her to minister God into her children through her unique expression of love. I love that God has ordained marriage and parenting as "fires" that refine us so that His image can be seen in us. Your Mom--a very happy, proud Mom!
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