Maturing to Know my Need
I am privileged to be very involved in the lives of three of my eight grandchildren, My daughter and her husband live in our garage apartment with their 3 children. The oldest is a nine year old granddaughter, I have watched her grow from a restless toddler to a focused almost preteen. Instead of needing to be constantly watched she now can watch her baby sister freeing her mom to make progress on other things.
Relating to this thoughtful nine year old is easier than it was dealing with the independent four year old Gracie. I remember my surprise the first time I heard that Grace had gotten eggs out of the fridge and cracked them into a bowl without even the smallest shell staying with the eggs. Her culinary skill of egg cracking was her only admirable talent in the kitchen. As long as she didn't have an audience she would grab the flour to add to the mix. Often she was stopped before any other ingredient could be chosen. I remember strongly suggesting that Grace should get help from her mother. I pointed out that when she knows how to read a recipe success in cooking might become a reality. Grace continued to insist that she could cook without any assistance. She did admit that she needed someone to turn on the oven.
My logic with Grace did not connect with her four year old way of thinking. Finally I decided to put one of her concoctions to the test. When she was caught again I offered to bake her creation. Much to her surprise it turned out to be an inedible mess, Soon after that her enthusiasm for baking waned.
Until recently I only saw this story as an amazing account of the joy and the frustration resulting from my eldest grand. Lately I've become convicted about how little I pray and how much I trust my own judgement and only give a nod to God. It is easy to look down on children and see ourselves as so much more mature than they are.
Too often we associate maturity with independence and self reliance. Could a four year old have come to that conclusion? Gracie did not want my help or her mother's. It seemed to her repeating what she had observed others doing was all she had to do. Verbal or written instructions were unnecessary. This plan did not produce the yummy desired results.
Proverbs 3:5-6 does not praise self reliance. Instead it says Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.
As we increase in years we also increase in knowledge but that knowledge only matters if wisdom develops, Wisdom only develops if we are not leaning on our own understanding but trusting in God. No matter how grown up I think I am I still have my moments as the headstrong cook slamming all kinds of items together and then marveling at the poor result. When I stop nodding at God and start living like I really believe He is in all of my life, He will make straight my paths.
Relating to this thoughtful nine year old is easier than it was dealing with the independent four year old Gracie. I remember my surprise the first time I heard that Grace had gotten eggs out of the fridge and cracked them into a bowl without even the smallest shell staying with the eggs. Her culinary skill of egg cracking was her only admirable talent in the kitchen. As long as she didn't have an audience she would grab the flour to add to the mix. Often she was stopped before any other ingredient could be chosen. I remember strongly suggesting that Grace should get help from her mother. I pointed out that when she knows how to read a recipe success in cooking might become a reality. Grace continued to insist that she could cook without any assistance. She did admit that she needed someone to turn on the oven.
My logic with Grace did not connect with her four year old way of thinking. Finally I decided to put one of her concoctions to the test. When she was caught again I offered to bake her creation. Much to her surprise it turned out to be an inedible mess, Soon after that her enthusiasm for baking waned.
Until recently I only saw this story as an amazing account of the joy and the frustration resulting from my eldest grand. Lately I've become convicted about how little I pray and how much I trust my own judgement and only give a nod to God. It is easy to look down on children and see ourselves as so much more mature than they are.
Too often we associate maturity with independence and self reliance. Could a four year old have come to that conclusion? Gracie did not want my help or her mother's. It seemed to her repeating what she had observed others doing was all she had to do. Verbal or written instructions were unnecessary. This plan did not produce the yummy desired results.
Proverbs 3:5-6 does not praise self reliance. Instead it says Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.
As we increase in years we also increase in knowledge but that knowledge only matters if wisdom develops, Wisdom only develops if we are not leaning on our own understanding but trusting in God. No matter how grown up I think I am I still have my moments as the headstrong cook slamming all kinds of items together and then marveling at the poor result. When I stop nodding at God and start living like I really believe He is in all of my life, He will make straight my paths.
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