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Saturday, April 14, 2007

Meetings with God

This mama doesn’t get out of the house very often (which is fine with me!), and so the lessons the Father teaches me are most often found in my everyday life, my children and their spiritual development. I’m so grateful that He meets me where I am!

Today, it finally happened.

I’ve been waiting and waiting. Hoping. Longing.

Eliana brought me her slipper.

It fell off when she was pushing her baby in the stroller, and from where I was in the kitchen, I watched her stop, pick it up, and contemplate it for a moment. Then a light bulb seemed to click on, and she looked around anxiously until she spotted me at my post, where I pretended I wasn’t watching and stirred the pot nonchalantly.

Quickly she made her way over to me, making a nonsense sound that ended with a question mark, and held out her pink butterfly slipper.

I swooped down to her level. “Oh, you lost your slipper! Do you want me to put it back on for you?” I asked. She clapped her hands (her sign for please) and plopped down on her fat diaper.

As I slid the slipper back on to her tiny foot and watched her toddle back to her toys, the significance of the moment was not lost on me.

Usually, the baby who lost her slipper either (a) didn’t even notice, or (b) screamed and threw a fit when she couldn’t get it back on by herself. I had been waiting for her to recognize that instead of wailing and carrying on, she could just ask me for help.

As the day passed, she brought me her empty water cup, her baby whose hat would not stay on, and patted my leg, signing the word “Lovey”, for her special rag. There wasn’t a tantrum to be seen, nor did I spy any indifference to her plights. She asked, and I helped.

How is it that Eliana has known me as her food source for sixteen months, and yet when it came to something she could not do on her own, it took her that long to figure out I was also a source of help?

Like a chant, the words ask, seek, knock began to trail through my mind. And like so many other moments in this Mama’s life, I sensed the Father was showing me something.

Beloved, I’ve always been here. You needn’t carry on so; I will help, if only asked.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 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! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:7-12)

His is the food source above all others. I know this. But so many, many times, I fumble about on my own, and carry on in frustration as I struggle to get by, rather than asking for help and trusting that He will come to my rescue.

In asking for and receiving His aid, I am learning how to live and lead, just as Eliana will soon learn how to put on her own slipper, just by mimicking my motions. It’s so much more, really, than receiving help; it’s accepting guidance that will lead us into His will for our lives.

And for you, I pray that your eyes may be opened to the beautiful sight of the Father, coming to meet you where you are.


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17 Comments:

Blogger wendybirde said...

Elise this was both precious and deep. I love so much how you make all this so touchable, so tangible. Not only this but your "holding the keys" and your "lather rinse repeat". These images of touchable understanding are as true treasure : )

Blessed Weekend <>< Wendy

April 13, 2007 at 10:53 PM  
Blogger Denise said...

This post was so lovely, thank you.

April 14, 2007 at 12:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A wonderful comparison
one worth remembering how easy it is to forget sometimes

April 14, 2007 at 12:40 AM  
Blogger 2nd Cup of Coffee said...

So sweet. You made me miss those toddler days. (I'm a little on the weepy side about my kids being "grown.") I did not understand much about the nature of God until I had children; then all kinds of scriptural instruction and claims made sense--for instance: unconditional love. Never knew it until I had kids; that's the honest truth. Thanks for the inspiration.

April 14, 2007 at 7:09 AM  
Blogger Jane said...

What a beautiful story and example of God's grace and patience. Thank you for sharing it with me. I needed to hear it.
Your 'job' as a mommy and homemaker is THE most important thing you can do. Thank you for doing it with a heart for God.

April 14, 2007 at 7:25 AM  
Blogger Andrea said...

Wonderful clarification. I love how He "meets us" where we are. You express that so well. :)
HAve a blessed weekend!!

April 14, 2007 at 8:32 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Elise,

This is beautiful!

Beloved, I’ve always been here. You needn’t carry on so; I will help, if only asked.

Oh I love this. Thank you! It will stick with me. Love, Lynn

April 14, 2007 at 8:40 AM  
Blogger Wendy said...

Thanks for this Elise, so true!

April 14, 2007 at 8:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How can I, a 35 year old woman, all of the sudden feel like an 18 month child? By really looking at my relationship with God. Oh my goodness. I feel like I've just recently entered my "terrible two's" with God. Tantrums and all. Maybe my son and I can grow up together!

Thanks for the great article Elise!

April 14, 2007 at 9:33 AM  
Blogger eph2810 said...

Absolutely beautiful, Elise. Yeah, our Heavenly Father always makes sure to show up where ever we are. We just have to acknowledge Him...I am bad of wailing sometimes and cry out. Oh and sometimes I even stomp my feet...

April 14, 2007 at 6:27 PM  
Blogger Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

This was a lovely post, as usual..so visual!

I have to digress from the line of comments thus far and say how impressed I am you've taught your daughter to sign...I've seen children who can do this and it is simply the most amazing thing..What a good mom you are!

April 14, 2007 at 6:56 PM  
Blogger Chris @ Come to the Table said...

Such a beautiful picture you have painted for us.

Blessings!

April 14, 2007 at 9:56 PM  
Blogger Christine said...

Those are wonderful moments of learning for all of us. Children truly are gifts. Thanks for sharing Eliana's epiphany with us!

April 15, 2007 at 11:05 AM  
Blogger Darlene Schacht said...

I love the way you always sense God in the everyday things of life. You don't need to get out anymore than you do, because life isn't passing you by one little bit.

April 15, 2007 at 4:45 PM  
Blogger Cheryl said...

You have wonderful writings! I am subbing to your RSS. I have not seen the Thankful Thursdays here yet, but I have seen it all over the blog world! I was wondering where it was at.

I have the "Glad Game" on my blog where I encourage visitors to post what they are glad about in the cbox at the top of my page and I try to do it daily too.

April 15, 2007 at 4:48 PM  
Blogger Janis Rodgers said...

Children can teach us sooo much about God and His love for us, can't they? I taught my middle daughter to sign a little and it was so much fun to watch her sign when she needed something! Thanks for your post. It really touched me! Blessings to you!

April 16, 2007 at 5:50 PM  
Blogger Cyndi said...

If a loving mother "swoops down," how much more will our Heavenly Father? I loved this post today. What beautiful imagery from your everyday life. :)

April 17, 2007 at 9:08 PM  

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