ALL TRIPPED UP

Gabriel recently adopted a baby blanket to carry around with him.  He just turned 16 months old, and is walking well, but is still plenty wobbly and falls down a hundred times a day.  (That'll be another post I'm sure!)

Well, the other day he insisted on carrying this blanket.  He was holding it about in the middle, just so the corner drug on the ground right in front of his feet.  So, of course, he stepped on it every time he took a step.

He was walking back and forth from the living room, which is carpeted, and the kitchen, which is tile.  On the carpet, the blanket would catch as he stepped on it.  On the tile, it would slip.  I bet he got one good step out of five.

He was whining about it with an occasional squeal of frustration, but he would not stop.  A few times I asked for the blanket, and he wouldn't give it to me.

I guess you could say he was ultimately responsible for his situation because he wouldn't let go of the source of the problem.

We could blame the blanket.

It sounds ridiculous, but how often do we blame the blanket in our own lives.

A target of addiction, such as food, shopping, alcohol, prescription drugs, our relationships, our past, anger, pain, circumstances, fear, and control can all be the scape goat of our problems, but the root lies in misuse, and refusing to let go.

And, like Gabriel, we like our blanket.  We want to be able to keep it without tripping, and then we throw a fit and burst out in frustration when we can't.

God, as our loving Parent, occasionally asks us to hand it to Him, so we don't have to trip on it anymore.

"Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Pet. 5:7)

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells us who are tired and worn down that He's willing to take our burdens and trade them for His, which are easy and light.

One thing I unexpectedly noticed in both of these passages is humility is involved.

In 1 Peter, the previous verse says, "humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God."

In Matthew 11, verse 29 says, "for I am gentle and humble in heart."

God is willing to take the problem of our self-will out of our hands if we would humbly let Him.

MEDITATE ON IT

What does your blanket look like?

What instances in your life can you look back and see as God asking for your blanket, willing to save you from yourself?

How do you express your frustration from tripping over your blanket?

PRAY ABOUT IT

Father God, thank You for loving us.  Thank You for offering us Your light load in place of the enormous burdens we attempt to carry ourselves.  Please teach us how to let these trip-ups go.  Gently offer us opportunities to hand them to You and give us the courage to trust You with them.  Open our eyes to identify our individual "blankets."  Forgive us when we choose to trip over ourselves and our will instead of handing them to You.  Increase our faith.

LIVE IN IT

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

"Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you." (Psalm 55:22)

"Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity...Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them." (1 Timothy 4:12,15)