Last night my daughter had a problem. It was a problem that needed to be dealt with, to be sure, but she didn’t know how to deal with it. So, she just did the first thing that came to mind. And it was the wrong thing. It ended up causing her more trouble. And getting her in trouble. And leading to a long discussion on what the appropriate course of action would have been.
Meanwhile, I was there the whole time. Available. Willing to help. But, I didn’t know she needed it. I had checked in with her several times, asking if she needed anything. But, every time she said no, she was fine. Yet she did need help. She just didn’t ask for it.
Now, I could go into all the details of what her problem was, what she did to deal with it, and why her solution was wrong. And most of you who are parents would nod in agreement and say you’d been there, too. But, in reality it matters less what the specific details are and more that I was right there and she didn’t come to me.
My daughter loves me. She trusts me. She likes having me as her mommy. She and I have a good relationship, and she very rarely hides anything from me. (I’m praying that miraculously continues several years from now when she’s a teenager!) When she does hide something from me, I typically figure it out pretty quickly, primarily because I’ve prayed that God would open my eyes!
All that to say, she and I have a good relationship. So, her neglect in coming to me for help had nothing to do with a lack of trust or a lack of knowledge that I love her and am here for her.
In all honesty, she just didn’t think of it. She just knew she had a problem and decided to deal with it. Asking me for help never crossed her mind like it should have.
Sound familiar at all? It does to me. When I think of my relationship with God, I identify it as good and growing. I like spending time with my Savior. I love His presence in my life. I desire to share and interact with Him, and there’s nothing I can think of that I want to hide from Him.
But, all too often when I encounter a little daily problem, I just handle it myself. I don’t think to ask Him for help. It’s right in front of me and it needs a solution. So, I deal with it. Sometimes it comes out alright, but other times it comes back to bite me. Either way, it doesn’t even dawn on me to ask Jesus for help.
The kids and I have started memorizing the first few verses of John 15. When we memorize Scripture, I want them to know what the verses mean. So, we’ve been talking about what it means to truly abide. Abiding covers so many things, but I would definitely say that remembering to ask for Jesus Christ’s help and interaction in every phase of life would be a big part of abiding.
I want my sweet little girl to know she can always come to me for help. My help might not always be the kind she wants. And, sometimes my help will be to teach her how to deal with the situation herself the next time. But, I want her to be reminded that I’m here and available for her.
My Father wants the same from me. He wants me to truly abide in Him in every little aspect of life. May I remember…
Not Quite Ordinary 