The sun beat down on the glossy water , gracefully reflecting sweet pigtails and a precious smile. Fondly I gazed at my sixth child, a special gift from God in her own right. We were walking together in the lazy river at the local pool.
Well, if you can call it “walking together.”
Anyone out there have a terrific temper-tantrum-throwing two-year-old?
(I see that hand.)
Sweet T was having a lovely time exhibiting her endearing attitude of not wanting to hold my hand in the water. So even though the water was up to her neck, she bobbed her way along the side…
Fiercely independent.
Refusing my assistance.
With no desire for my help in the least.little.way.
Until…
We reached “the buckets.”
A series of 4 rows and 4 columns of buckets that dump water right over your head at varying patterns. Too many for a toddler mind to comprehend.
The only hope is to escape at just the right window of perfectly-timed opportunity.
There was no bell sounding that the buckets were ahead. No warning that my pretty girl could readily identify other than seeing them.
Just the sudden urgency that something was bigger than she.
Water up to her neck was one thing, but water coming down from above at the same time? She would literally be in over her head.
This she sensed. This she saw. This she felt.
And then, Toddler T became completely dependent. A call for “Oh, no. The buckets!” paired with “Help me, Mommy!” made it evident that the earlier charade of complete and total independence was …
history.
I chuckled to myself over her response.
But the whisper in my heart asked:
“What is so funny, Child of God? You act just like that temper-tantrum throwing toddler. You want me to stand by you, but you bob along your merry little way. I’m here for you, Daughter of Mine. But if you will just rely on me completely, depending on me fiercely, you will find that you are not alone. That independence and freedom you seek will be found in Me. Not without Me. Those buckets? They are for your good.”
And I prayed.
“O Lord. Send more buckets my way. Fill them to the top, brimming over; so that when they pour out, I will be relying fully on you. If that is what it takes for complete surrender, I humble myself. Because the buckets are what make me…
Fiercely dependent.”
Jeremiah 17:7
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.
ABOUT RACHEL WOJNAROWSKI
Rachel Wojnarowski, a small town country girl by origin, converted to a suburban mother of seven by way of life happening and God working. She and her husband, Matt, enjoy caring for their busy...
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Rachel, your post spoke to me in a big way today. Let it rain, Father. Let it rain. If that’s what it takes. Let it rain.
Amen, sister!
Rich blessings as you continue to lean close and learn to trust in All. For. Purpose.
God is so generous. Thank you for your comment!! I appreciate your honesty and encouragement very much.
So beautifully real, Rachel! I loved this. I am there. Standing before the buckets. Knowing I should beg for them to fall and keenly aware of what will happen when they do. Your writing allowed me to see THE hand that was reaching through the waterfall, ready to guide me through. Thank you so much for sharing!
He’s there, Summer. Looking forward to sharing the mission field bucket with you! :)
We were talking about just this topic last night at our women’s bible study group. Your post is a wonderful analogy of how we all just want to be so independent, cyring “Self, daddy, self!”
Always so good to see myself mirrored in posts that reflect the true me.
Thanks so much for holding it up for me to see.
Looking right back at ya. ;) Thanks for reading and for your honesty.
Oh yes, I am praying with you … Lord, send the buckets!!!!
Tis a bold prayer. Thank you, Girl.
A wonderful post for me, a woman who threw her fair share of tempter tantrums as a child, and who often lives in that fiercely independent, I-can-do-it-all-on-my-own state. It’s something I’m working on…. learning to run to God, to be dependent on him, to embrace the buckets.
Thanks for sharing.
So welcome. It’s a process!
Love this! Makes so much sense now that I have a stubborn toddler. I’ll probably pass this post on to others. :)
Oh how those toddlers can teach the lessons if we allow them. :)
Hi Rachel, I sat next to you at the Thursday dinner. I loved watching you with your 7th daughter! I also have a fiercely independent daughter, she’s 3. I enjoyed reading this post very much. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading; I can see you in my mind’s eye because we are both Rachel. :) Great fun this weekend, wasn’t it.
I loved this. Thank you so much for sharing..
Thanks for being (in)couraged! :)
I’m right there with you….
that fiercely independent 6th child (my daughter just turned 3), amongst a crew of seven!
Thanks for these precious words; reminder of His Grace amidst my own grasping for perceived-independence.
How cool is that neat little common bond between us. :) Thanks for stopping by!!
This picture of your “Sweet T” is just too sweet.
Enjoyed finding your words here.
So beautifully said. I too have a stubborn little girl. Thanks so much!!
So blessed! thanks for stopping!
Hey girls I threw a 65 year old temper tamtrum today, aimed directly at my husband for not letting me be in control. Oh I was controled enough to not stomp, or even cry but throw it I did, with cold controlled words aimed to get my point across.
Several hours later after God had laid me out with His sweet mercy and love by using my husband to throw buckets of rain on me……just what I needed. So keep the rain coming, dose the control freak in me…drown the stubborness….Let it rain, Let rain, Let it rain
Thanks for reminding us that age doesn’t mean we arrive! That stubbornness is persistent. :)
Great post! And I love that verse…. reminds us that our trust and dependence on the Lord is all encompassing!
so true!
O I love this! I love how Moms (like you!) who are so attuned to the Lord see those significant parallels between little ones and parents – and big ones who live out those same childish responses to the Lord. My prayer is to be child-like instead of childish – people like you help lead me there. Many blessings in your ministry to family and beyond. Hugs!!
I love that: Child-like instead of childish! Good stuff!!!