I'd like to share a little story from a few years back (my children love me to tell familiar stories over and over) that is one of the seminal moments the Lord used to strengthen my parenting style and to reveal to me His love.
In 1999, my then three-year-old son wanted to go outdoors to play in the snow, but he was having quite a struggle slipping into his coat. He had gotten one arm into the sleeve; but the rest of the coat was upside-down so that the hood wasn't anywhere near where it was supposed to be. The other sleeve was inside-out, and he was trying to put his free arm into that disheveled sleeve! The coat was such a mess, and he was crying and crying with frustration. I asked if he needed help, and he wailed, "No, I can do it myself." So I waited, and he cried more and more and began sweating. Finally, he sat down, exhausted, and whimpered, "Help me, Mommy!" I asked him to take off his coat, which he reluctantly did, and hand it to me. Then I showed him the inside-out sleeve and, together, we turned it the right way. I laid the coat on floor so he could see that the hood belonged near the head, and then told him to lie on the coat on the floor so he could slip into it easily. He did just that. When he stood up, I pulled the hood up and zipped the coat. He said, "Look, Mommy, I did it all by myself," to which I responded, "You sure did. I knew you could."
When I was recording this incident in my journal, God revealed to me that He is my Parent and I am that little child struggling so. It was one of the first times as a mom I remember experiencing the deep love of God for me, His child. There were times when my life was a mess, like that coat, and I struggled and cried and thought I could fix it myself, so my God waited for me, watching all the while with love for me. Finally, when I whimpered for help, He didn't chide me but graciously and mercifully came and asked me to hand over my life to him, like my son did with his coat.
My Father-God didn't tell me what a mess I had made of things (I already knew that) but instead He loved me. I needed to be willing to hand Him my “coat”/my life; and then He helped me to turn my inside-out life around. He let me do it by my choice to obey Him. He laid out His vision for my life: Follow Me! I was and still am willing. When He helped me to my feet, He bundled me up nice and warm and then zipped me in with His seal. But, having grown just a little more than my son, I knew I hadn't done anything on my own... and so I glorified and thanked Him; and He responded, "Go and do likewise."
as you grow to hear Him in the everyday circumstances He uses to reach you.
Who will set me free…? Jesus Christ our Lord! ~Romans 7:19, 24-25a Return to Christian Parenting Articles Page
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