Plunk!
The ball landed with a muted thud and nestled into its resting spot. This was the one place I hoped it wouldn’t land: in my bowl of ground flaxseed.
While I prepared ingredients for bread baking, my four-year-old was playing nearby. She’d found a small bouncy rubber ball, purple with flecks of pink glitter. When she threw it on the floor, it bounced up in the air. This was an exciting discovery — that she could bounce the ball and catch it too. She kept moving farther into the kitchen as I kept cringing inwardly, hoping it wouldn’t land anywhere near my counter.
Yet it did.
She gasped and stopped mid-step.
“Sorry Mom!” Bowing her head, she braced herself for a negative reaction of some kind.
Instead, God spoke to me in the moment.
There are times when I try something new and seem to master it all on my own. My confidence builds, as each attempt at a new skill takes me higher and farther. In my imagination, I’m telling large crowds, “Hey, look at me! Look what I can do!” The temptation to post photos and updates to social media is high, as I seek approval from others. Without realizing it, I soon venture onto dangerous ground, thinking I can still control it all by myself.
Cue the plunk!
I gasp as things spiral out of my reach in the blink of an eye. Suddenly I’m regretting that step I know I shouldn’t have taken; the one I debated from the start. Or I’m second guessing decisions, recalculating to determine how to change things to avoid catastrophe the next time. And yes, there are also times when I must brace myself for the negative reactions of others, though I’ve apologized when things got out of control.
As we mature, there is a constant tug-of-war between our own way and God’s way.
We think that mastering certain tasks by ourselves is a sign of maturity. Perhaps we figure that God is too busy for petty dilemmas and should only be called upon when we’re in serious trouble. As though His help has limits.
However, God never intended for us to live completely on our own, without any help from Him. God loves us too deeply to leave us alone. I can imagine His delight when we discover something new, particularly when it helps to strengthen our relationship with Him. He’s eager to direct our steps, because He knows the best paths for us. He knows where all the perfect ball-bouncing spots are; we just need to trust Him.
I looked at my little girl and could see her regret. This, too, was an instance that threatened undoing if I didn’t follow God’s lead. Recalling His message to me, I started to giggle at the sight of her ball in the bowl. She quickly joined in and together, we talked about what we had learned.
When we let God lead, He will help us to not only grow, but to thrive. We are never alone.
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Related: Enjoy this fun set of six small magnets as great reminders for how to love well for this one, great, extraordinary life.
Leave a Comment
A says
Thank you for this! It’s God’s reminder to not be so hard on myself and enjoy Him and this beautiful life. To take it one moment at a time and laugh 🙂 I pray that He continues to bless your day 🙂
Sabrina says
You’re welcome, A. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in all that we have to ‘do’ that we don’t leave time to live in the moment. Blessings as God continues to work in your life 🙂
Wendy says
Too often we forget that these “mistakes” are truly accidents. Thank you for the reminder to hold my tongue for a few seconds, then let God speak through me.
Sabrina says
You’re welcome, Wendy. I’m thankful that God never gives up on us.
Mary says
Thank you. This was a timely reminder for me.
Sabrina says
You’re welcome, Mary. Blessings to you 🙂
Lisha Epperson says
Gosh you handled that well Sabrina – a ball in your ground flax seed? Only Jesus could fix that. Lol. I love how God spoke to you and helped you turn the situation around to speak to the heart of your daughter. He’s good like that.
Sabrina says
Right?! LOL
I’m so glad God is consistent with His patient gentleness towards us.
Beth Williams says
Sabrina,
Thank you for this super timely post! This so resonated with me right now. My hubby and I are going through a fork in the road. We need to not worry so much about which way to go as to trust God and pray about it! Also I need to quit being so hard on myself for past mistakes. They are in the past and can’t be fixed.
Blessings 🙂