I can remember watching our kids and, in more recent years, our grandkids, begin to assert their independence during their formative years. I don't remember specifically which little Mr. or Miss Independent it was, but I do remember an incident when, in the interest of time, I wanted to help one of them put their shoes on. Their response was, "My do it !"
I remember relenting, even though that meant letting them walk out the door a bit later than I wanted, and with one shoe pointed to the east, the other to the west.
I needed even more patience as they graduated to wanting to tie their own shoes, put a tee-shirt on backwards and inside-out, or read Green Eggs and Ham upside down. In reality, however, my impatience was always overcome with a glow of pride that they were showing a spirit of wanting to learn to do these tasks for themselves. I saw seeds of confidence being sown that would bear fruit later in their lives, when they would need that confidence to accomplish a daunting task, or to persevere when others were giving up.
I love it when great truths like this are illustrated in ways that are at once both simple and profound. A few days ago, our youngest son, Eric, sent us a brief video of our youngest grandson, William, providing a profound lesson in a simple playground setting. William, who is 3 1/2 years old, had decided to shimmy up one of two 9- foot poles supporting a cross-beam for some playground swings. He hugged the slippery, 6-inch diameter pole dearly with his chest, wrapping his small but strong arms and legs around it. He used his bare feet to inch up the pole Tarzan-like, slowly making progress with an effort-filled grin on his face. He faltered slightly about a third of the way up, losing a couple of hard-won inches. That brought a mix of whimpering laughter, a point at which a less-determined boy might have dropped to the ground and moved on to something less challenging. But instead, he regained the inches he had lost, and moved steadily upward. A few times, he gave himself the luxury of looking at the top of the pole, measuring his progress. I could see in his eyes at that point that there would be no turning back. I saw another truth illustrated as he neared the last couple of feet. And that is, that the thrill and satisfaction of getting close to our goal is itself tremendous motivation to push through.
Just before he reached the top and swung his eager hands out onto the smaller-diameter horizontal bar, his face broke out into a huge grin, and he shouted triumphantly, " I did it !"
To our adult children, Wendy and Scott and Eric.....how many times over the years did we listen to you say, "I did it !" ? Oh, you may have dropped a couple of inches on the pole at times. Haven't we all ? But you didn't let go. And you didn't quit climbing. And you never have.
Then, as you found Jon and Heather and Brittany, the loves of your lives, together you instilled that same determination in your children.....in Abby and Anna....in Brady and Avery and Nora......in Jack and Audrey and William.
But the most rewarding thing of all is that you're teaching them what we taught you---that nothing that we accomplish can be rewarding if it is done solely in or of ourselves. Only if we do it with God's direction and blessing is it truly worth doing.
If we listen carefully to the video, we can hear William's older brother and sister, Jack and Audrey, cheering him on.
"Come on, Will !"
"You've got this Will !"
"Keep going, Will !"
There is no substitute for hearing encouragement from those we love.
Consider for a moment that God, the One who loves us best, is doing the same for us. Put your name in the blank and imagine the Lord saying it out loud:
"Come on _____________ !"
"You've got this _____________!"
"Keep going, ______________!'
Here's a 60-second video of The Climb. Click on the IMG line, then click on the link that comes up.
IMG_2891[1].MOV
Yes, Will, you did it. Abby, Anna, Brady, Avery, Nora, Jack and Audrey......they're climbing too. And it won't always be easy. But we know you're all going to be cheering for each other. We want you to stay close to each other over the years.
To all of you, from Mama and Papa......"You've got this !"
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave nor forsake you.-------Deuteronomy 31:6
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.-------Hebrews 10:36
I love it when great truths like this are illustrated in ways that are at once both simple and profound. A few days ago, our youngest son, Eric, sent us a brief video of our youngest grandson, William, providing a profound lesson in a simple playground setting. William, who is 3 1/2 years old, had decided to shimmy up one of two 9- foot poles supporting a cross-beam for some playground swings. He hugged the slippery, 6-inch diameter pole dearly with his chest, wrapping his small but strong arms and legs around it. He used his bare feet to inch up the pole Tarzan-like, slowly making progress with an effort-filled grin on his face. He faltered slightly about a third of the way up, losing a couple of hard-won inches. That brought a mix of whimpering laughter, a point at which a less-determined boy might have dropped to the ground and moved on to something less challenging. But instead, he regained the inches he had lost, and moved steadily upward. A few times, he gave himself the luxury of looking at the top of the pole, measuring his progress. I could see in his eyes at that point that there would be no turning back. I saw another truth illustrated as he neared the last couple of feet. And that is, that the thrill and satisfaction of getting close to our goal is itself tremendous motivation to push through.Just before he reached the top and swung his eager hands out onto the smaller-diameter horizontal bar, his face broke out into a huge grin, and he shouted triumphantly, " I did it !"
To our adult children, Wendy and Scott and Eric.....how many times over the years did we listen to you say, "I did it !" ? Oh, you may have dropped a couple of inches on the pole at times. Haven't we all ? But you didn't let go. And you didn't quit climbing. And you never have.
Then, as you found Jon and Heather and Brittany, the loves of your lives, together you instilled that same determination in your children.....in Abby and Anna....in Brady and Avery and Nora......in Jack and Audrey and William.
But the most rewarding thing of all is that you're teaching them what we taught you---that nothing that we accomplish can be rewarding if it is done solely in or of ourselves. Only if we do it with God's direction and blessing is it truly worth doing.
If we listen carefully to the video, we can hear William's older brother and sister, Jack and Audrey, cheering him on.
"Come on, Will !"
"You've got this Will !"
"Keep going, Will !"
There is no substitute for hearing encouragement from those we love.
Consider for a moment that God, the One who loves us best, is doing the same for us. Put your name in the blank and imagine the Lord saying it out loud:
"Come on _____________ !"
"You've got this _____________!"
"Keep going, ______________!'
Here's a 60-second video of The Climb. Click on the IMG line, then click on the link that comes up.
IMG_2891[1].MOV
Yes, Will, you did it. Abby, Anna, Brady, Avery, Nora, Jack and Audrey......they're climbing too. And it won't always be easy. But we know you're all going to be cheering for each other. We want you to stay close to each other over the years.
To all of you, from Mama and Papa......"You've got this !"
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave nor forsake you.-------Deuteronomy 31:6
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.-------Hebrews 10:36
