| Author | Message | ||
| Snowboardingmom Registered user Username: Snowboardingmom Post Number: 291 Registered: 11-2005 |
I just have to quickly share an experience that happened to me this morning, and the lessons it taught me. I have been running errands this morning with my two sons (one is 2 1/2 and the other is a newborn). Needless to say, it was an adventure! My last stop for the morning was Rite Aid. Rite Aid has 2 automatic sliding doors that you have to go through before going into the store, with a small space separating the two. My son was walking ahead of me, and went through the automatic doors first. As the doors started to close behind him, he instinctively turned around to see that the door was going to shut between us, and went into a panic. He quickly reached out and planted his hands onto the two sides of the sliding door to keep it from shutting. The doors have a safety feature so that the doors stop when someone triggers the sensor and is right up against the door. So it neither shuts or opens, it just freezes. It "froze" about 2 inches from completely shutting. My son, frantically started trying to force the doors back open, while crying out "Mommy, help me!" I tried to explain to him that he needed to let go of the door and step away from it so that it could open back up. Of course, from his toddler perspective, letting go of the doors would only cause them to close all the way, separating us forever. He had no idea that his efforts to hold the doors open was worthless. His palms continued to press against the doors, and were beginning to turn white from the force he was exerting on the doors. His arms also began to shake because he was trying so hard to muster the strength to open them back up. I kept telling him that he needed to listen to me, trust me, and just let go of the doors and back away from them. He continued to cry out, "No...doors close. Mommy help!" Tears were streaming down his face, and he refused to let go. Meanwhile, people began gathering around me (from the outside) waiting to go into the store. Since he was "stuck" in the space between the front door, and the door into the store, people inside the store were oblivious to his cries. Helpless, I just continued to try and reassure him and convince him that it would be okay to let go. Finally, after about a minute (which seemed like an eternity!) he fell back from exhaustion, and instantly the doors opened back up. I then gave him a hug, calmed him down, and finished our errand. As I thought about it, this experience mirrored so much of my transition experience out of Adventism. From my perspective, the thought of letting go of my "efforts" were so counterintuitive. How could I give up what we have to do? After all, if I do that, I'll be separated from God forever! So I continued to stubbornly hold on to what I thought was the way, completely unaware that not only were my efforts fruitless, but actually keeping me separated! I knew what I was "doing" wasn't working or accomplishing anything, but yet, I feared the consequence of "letting go". As long as there was still that small opening, there was still hope that I could reach Him. I clung on to that hope, which gave me tastes of Him, and temporary security, but ultimately left me exhausted and frustrated. I had no idea at the time that my efforts or works were at odds with following Jesus. I now see that in order to follow Jesus, I had to give up. True freedom in Christ can't be experienced if we continue to hold onto our fruitless efforts. We have to be willing to trust our insecurities and fears to Him, and trust what He promises is true. Only then does everything "open up" and we get to experience an incredible life with Jesus! Anyway, just wanted to share. It was a somewhat impacting object lesson for me, and reminded me of my journey out of Adventism. Grace | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3736 Registered: 3-2004  |
Grace, Thanks for sharing this lesson from your life. It is a very good one. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5991 Registered: 12-2003  |
Grace, what a horrible experience! I'm sorry! (Poor little guy...) What a powerful picture of what we all deal with...I'm finding that life is a continuous submitting and letting go at deeper and deeper levels. But He IS faithful... Of this I am convinced. Colleen | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 827 Registered: 9-2006  |
Grace, what a Holy Spirit inspiration that was. Thanks for sharing it with us today. Those things you shared really spoke to me today. Adventist or no we all need to just trust. many times I can't see how God will work things out and after 36 years I am still learning to "Just let go". Bless you today. River | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 944 Registered: 8-2004  |
What an experience Grace! I'm so glad that he finally did let go. What an object lesson for us. Thanks for sharing it. It was very timely for me today! Blessings, Mary | ||
| Bobj Registered user Username: Bobj Post Number: 187 Registered: 1-2006  |
Grace Thank you for the terrific post. It was very much appreciated. Bob |
