I know it's been quite a while since my last post. Life....it just takes a lot out of you sometimes!
Yesterday, my daughter was telling me that one of my grandson's went to his first t-ball practice. He has watched his older brother play ball for two years. He has gone to most every game. He knows what happens, and what to do. He knows that his parents aren't going to leave, and that it will be fun. He's watched, and wanted to play...........until his very own first game.
This little boy is smart as all get out! But he's also cautious, and analyzes things, and doesn't just join in. Sometimes he has to be coaxed, and sometimes.....forced. He's a little timid, especially in group things, where one of his parent's can't just stand beside him the whole time. This happened at t-ball. The little guy who doesn't want to draw attention to himself, made a scene, had a tantrum,and threw his parents for a loop!
He wanted his parents to stand in the ball field with him, because he didn't want to do it alone. It was a water-works display. His parents held their ground. They know that part of parenting is training the kids to do things without them. Honestly, it's probably harder for the parents (at least, the mom) than the kids-----this separation, detaching, pushing the baby birds out of the nest! But it must be done.
It will most likely take this little guy a few times before he allows himself to have fun, and gives it his best shot. Crazy deal is that he is really going to be an athlete. He's coordinated, and loves sports, and runs fast, and can "figure it out". He just has to trust, and submit to his parents, and the coach. He has to believe he will be ok when his parents aren't right next to him.....they are just a few more feet away, watching his every move. They'd be there in a flash if something happened, but they know this will be good for him.
I think I am like this little guy with the scarey things in life. I have watched God work in the lives of others, and even in my own life. I have seen miracles.....cancers cured, babies born, jobs found or saved, money come in the nick of time.....prayers answered. I have read the Bible, memorized many of the promises, and had others pray for me. I have felt the shelter of God's love wrapped around me when I have grieved a loss. I'm a fairly strong woman. I can "get it done". But sometimes, I let fear grab ahold of me and paralyze me. I get into a stubborn mood and tell God "I can't"! God replies,
Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
I tell God that it's too hard, and I don't want to! He reminds me---
2 Corinthians 12:9a
"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
I resist, and at times, I refuse His blessings because I'm afraid, or I just want Him to hold my hand, and He gently nudges me "out of the nest"..........BUT He never takes His eyes off of me. He knows that I am equipped to do what He's asked me to do. He prepared me. He lets me get a skinned knee, and sometimes a ball hits me in the arm, or the side. Sometimes, when I'm up to bat, I strike out. Sometimes, I don't catch the fly ball thrown out into the field. That's how I learn. I make mistakes. Sometimes my weaknesses show. (Oh my!) Sometimes, I really screw up and it affects the "team".
If everything came easy, if I had lots of self-confidence, and believed it was all ME.............I wouldn't seek HIM! What wonderful lessons we can learn just from being nudged out of the nest a bit, and having to play t-ball! My grandson is just a little guy, so he won't understand all of the important lessons he will learn from playing on a team, or just being required, or "forced" to give this game a chance. His parents wouldn't ask him to do something they didn't think would be good for him! They love him!
God, who knows the whole story from beginning to end. He has many lessons for us to learn, blessings to shower on us, struggles we need to trudge through, and gems for us to find. We will get bumps and bruises, cuts and scrapes, and even sometimes-----feel alone, on this journey called life. But this life is not all about us! There is so much more than we can see that is happening every day, all around us! The greatest blessing in all of life is to be used by God to bring others to Him. Each struggle, trial, and victory is to prepare and equip us for His purposes.
Time to pray:
This week, as I anticipate a challenging one...........Lord, keep your eye on me! As you allow the tough things in life to strengthen me, and equip me, let me see you! When I tell you it's too hard, or I'm scared, or I can't......remind me that nothing is too difficult for YOU! You are with me! You will pick me up when I fall, and I am never alone. When I just don't want to play the game, when I'm tired, and worn, and ready to just watch.........remind me that there is a purpose in all of this, and you have a plan to give me a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
In Jesus Name,
Amen
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