Have I mentioned lately that I love kids? Because I really love kids.
About an hour ago, Mazzie (Mackinnon, age 4) kept spinning around pretending she was a fountain from which people could pluck a crown. I was thinking, "You know, kids do teach me a lot, but they haven't so much lately." About that time, Mackinnon had started closing her eyes while she was spinning. I said, "Mackinnon, don't close your eyes. You can't do that when you're spinning."
She asked, "Why not?"
And I said, "Because you're more likely to fall."
Then I thought, "Never mind. I just learned something."
Life is crazy. And sometimes, we feel like we're just spinning around pointlessly on this planet we call earth. So, we complicate it since it isn't pleasantly interesting. We close our eyes so we don't see the obstacles. We "speed up" our lives, spinning faster and faster, not content in the present but always "pushing through" life until we reach the next phase. As if that's not enough, we offer up our "crowns"--our personal treasures given to us from our Daddy the King--to any passerby who's interested instead of donning the gifts ourselves, we who bring forth the Living Water from our lives.
If we would just keep our eyes open and face our trials, slow down and enjoy where we are in our lives now, and don with confidence the gifts given us, making use of our talents for the glory of God, we wouldn't be in such a dizzying place where we can't see the big picture--the point of life. We would be able to see clearly where we are and where we're going, and we would be able to direct where we bring the Fountain of Life.
Yet, we keep spinning. That is, until we finally open our eyes and hear our Daddy's voice, not demanding but pleading, "Child, don't close your eyes. You can't do that while you're spinning."
"Why?" we ask Him as we slow down and open our eyes.
"Because you're more likely to fall."
We wonder who this Man is who comes with such a bold word. Like John when he was in prison, we ask: "Are You the Expected One, or shall we [the disciples] look for someone else?"
"Jesus answered and said to them, 'Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.'"
Matthew 11:3-5
When we realize the voice is of God, who has kind intentions toward us (Ephesians 1:5,9), we are left with the decision to either follow His advice, His way, or deny Him. And it's a hard decision to make.
"He who loves a father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it."
Matthew 10:37-39
"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple."
Luke 14:27
But is it worth it? If you lose your life for Him, you gain life. But that does mean surrender. But, He does make the decision easier with His love and compassion.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."
John 3:16
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30
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