Yes, I take all of my children
with me to the grocery store!
with me to the grocery store!I would be a rich woman if I had a dollar for every time I heard, "You have your hands full!"
I also hear, "You bring your kids to the grocery store? You're brave."
There's a thin line between brave and crazy
, I always say!
, I always say!Three quarters of the way through the grocery store, I'm ready to get out as fast as I can. One week we got to the bottled water, and as I loaded the cart Garrett and Isabelle began pulling a gallon of lemonade off the shelf.
! You are not 
!" I said, just as an older man turned onto our aisle.
to me," he said, "That's not As the man moved along, I explained to them if they really wanted to be helpful
, the most helpful
thing they could do was to obey
.
, the most helpful thing they could do was to obey."Has the LORD
as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD
? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice." (1 Sam. 15:22)
as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice." (1 Sam. 15:22)This takes on so many different forms in our lives, but the root of it is all the same. I want to do what I want to do and I justify it by calling it "helping
."
."
" 
the 
of our loved ones by telling them what they should be 
.
" keep the 
by not expressing our 
, concerns, opinions and 
.We "help
" others by doing for them what they can do themselves
, and is technically their responsibility
.
" others by doing for them what they can do themselves, and is technically their responsibility.In my own life my motivation
is always fear
, which leads to control
.
is always fear, which leads to control.I'm afraid
another will make the wrong
decision
and cause themselves pain
, which would hurt me. Never mind if they need the lesson or not.
another will make the wrong decision and cause themselves pain, which would hurt me. Never mind if they need the lesson or not.Or, I'm afraid
they won't do what needs to be done, or do it right
, because there is only one way to do things.
they won't do what needs to be done, or do it right, because there is only one way to do things.God's
motivation
is not for our comfort, but for our Christ-likeness. This usually doesn't happen without pain.
motivation is not for our comfort, but for our Christ-likeness. This usually doesn't happen without pain."The sacrifices of God
are a broken spirit
, a broken
and contrite heart
- these, O God
, You will not despise." (Ps. 51:17)
are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart - these, O God, You will not despise." (Ps. 51:17)God
loves us enough to allow us to go through pain that will turn us to Him. We need to not prevent
the same gift from being given to another.
loves us enough to allow us to go through pain that will turn us to Him. We need to not prevent the same gift from being given to another.MEDITATE ON IT
Who's spiritual growth
are you inhibiting by preventing them from experiencing the pain of their own choices?
are you inhibiting by preventing them from experiencing the pain of their own choices?
" 
and others?How does your "helping
" affect your relationships
? Do you do it for them or for yourself?
" affect your relationships? Do you do it for them or for yourself?PRAY ABOUT IT
Father God, in our own understanding
and will we would wish that no one would have to experience pain. But Father, You spare no one from pain, not even Your own Son. Give us Your perspective so we can see the work You are doing not only in our own pain, but what You are allowing in the lives of those we love. Have mercy on us. Open our eyes and give us wisdom to handle those we love the way You would have us do. Forgive us for interfering in Your work, and teach us how to get out of Your way.
and will we would wish that no one would have to experience pain. But Father, You spare no one from pain, not even Your own Son. Give us Your perspective so we can see the work You are doing not only in our own pain, but what You are allowing in the lives of those we love. Have mercy on us. Open our eyes and give us wisdom to handle those we love the way You would have us do. Forgive us for interfering in Your work, and teach us how to get out of Your way.LIVE IN IT
"So that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find
Him, though He is not far from each one of us." (Acts 17:27)
Him, though He is not far from each one of us." (Acts 17:27)"You laid affliction on our backs...we went through fire and water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment."(Psalm 66:11-12)
"For each one shall bear his own load." (Galatians 6:5)
