I'm not sure about you but don't you love those sermons or Bible Study messages that were written for other people? Surely you know what I mean...those times where the preacher is talking and you are really hoping "so and so" is at church today? Or you sit up straighter and pretend to take notes so maybe your husband (or wife) will wonder what's so important and listen? Or even those verses you come across in the Bible and you think..."oh man, how can I bring this up in conversation with "so and so" because they REALLY need to hear this." Surely I am not the only one??
However, I have to say that the most humbling experience is when God uses our children to teach us a lesson. Wednesday nights after church is always hectic when we get home. J.O. leaves early with B and brings him home for a bath, bottle and bed (or the 3b's as we so lazily say), then I wait on Trey and Addison to finish up and we head home. Now, I have yet to figure out what they feed the kids on Wednesday nights (they try to disguise the snack to resemble goldfish but I am on to them). They leave church so hyper, happy and wound up that I have a hard time getting them settled down. I am not complaining because to me this is a sign of how much fun they have had, but the second we get in the car I have to start saying, "remember, no yelling once we get in the house because B is going to bed" or "please don't sing that amazing song you just learned at the top of your lungs once we get in the house because B is in bed" and so forth.
Last night was no exception. They had a blast and were talking nonstop, playing, hitting, screaming, you name it. When we pulled into the garage, they jumped out of the car and neither one wanted to shut the car door. They both get out on the same side and technically Addison gets out last and should have done it, but she thought it was Trey's turn for some reason. They stood there arguing as I was carrying in books, crafts, etc and I just said, "someone please close the door." Like the good kids they are, they continued to argue and Addison decided she didn't care if it was ever shut and ran in. I put the stuff down and went back outside and told Trey not to worry about it, since he wasn't willing to do it, I would. Well that got him. He started crying and said he would, he wanted to, etc.
I sat down with him and told him there was a difference in doing something because he had to and doing something because he was willing. I told him that I understood Addison should have closed the door but she wasn't willing to help. Then, I explained that he should have seen me with my hands full and realized he was fully capable and able to shut the door and help out.
Then I felt the urge to quickly move back before lightening struck me. I walked off and realized that God was talking to me that entire conversation. It made me wonder how willing He really thinks I am. Sure, I will usually end up doing what He asks but is it because I am willing or because I feel like I have to? How many times have I stood there arguing, debating, watching from the sidelines what needed to be done, but was simply unwilling to move. We talked last night about not going back to the places God has called us away from and for me I'm going to have to work on being a willing and cheerful servant.
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