“DAD-DEE!!!”
A father crouches in front of his screaming two year old son. Just in from making a snowman, his son is desperate to shed his snow-laden coat. Ice and snow packs the sleeves and collar of his soggy outerwear.
Hurrying to remove the offending coat, the young father jams the zipper mid-slide. But he has a plan. He’ll just slide the coat down to his son’s boots and have him step out of it.
“Stand still honey. I’ll pull your coat down instead.”
He is rewarded with an earsplitting cry of fear. “NO, NO, NO!”
The boy only knows one way to get a coat off. Unzip and slide it off his arms. That’s the way he’s always done it. But now, that way isn’t working. Snow burns his arms and neck, and his father has some crazy notion about sliding his coat down to the floor?
Sounds familiar to me. Standing before a pressing problem, I try everything I know to solve it. Despite all my efforts, sometimes nothing seems to work. Answering my desperate prayers, my Heavenly Father suggests a new strategy. Instead of meeting that suggestion with trust, I stand with my hands over my ears rooted in front of that dilemma. Refusing to see the new possibilities, I fall apart, crying out to him again: “DAD-DEE!!!”
New ways…new options…new paths. They are scary, but only because they are different and unexpected.
I’ve written before about how tired and busy I was a few years ago. I had finally hit the breaking point with volunteer jobs. I knew it was important for me to donate my time as I was able, and I did enjoy it. But I was involved with the local homeless shelter, our church council, reading Scripture at services, heading the Worship Commission, leading a small group, working part-time, and going nuts full-time. It was just crazy.
Even thought I knew it was too much, I couldn’t bring myself to say ‘no’. I stood in front of a wall of my own making and wailed to the Lord. “I’m so tired! What should I do?” I heard my heavenly Father gently tell me to cut back on my activities, but I just didn’t trust that word. I had never quit anything in my life! Like the two year old hearing about a new way to take off his coat, I thought it sounded absurd.
But the pain I was in, like the snow that burned the little boys arms and neck, was immediate and painful. Feeling cornered and hopeless, I began to say ‘no’. What a surprise! The tension eased. I could breathe. I had more time for my family, myself, and for my prayer life.
The daddy in our story finally was able to yank that wet coat to the floor, to his son’s absolute amazement. I know the feeling. If I will only listen, the creative and loving word of my Father will ease my pain too. To my absolute amazement.
The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
Psalm 32:8
Surrounded by the Spirit on Facebook
It really is very annoying when the zipper jams in mid-slide and does not go either up or down leaving a gaping hole in the front of one’s trousers. Especially when it happens a few minutes when one has to give a presentation on stage to an audience of junior managers expecting me to inspire and encourage them to greater things.
What do you expect me to do? Wear an overcoat and pretend to be cold?
How can I possibly maintain any shred of respect amongst my peers and my team in such circumstances?
Ceil, you have a brilliant way of starting a story and captivating your audience to read every word right up to the end. And then be rewarded with an inspirational and encouraging message. Bravo.
God bless you.
What a timely post for me….Wonderful analogy and word picture which I love. I ask myself why is so hard to get in my head that God’s way is better than mine. Hugs to you…
For sure, pain is a good motivator. If only we would listen to the Lord’s prompts, the ones He whispers deep, we’d save us all the aggravation.
You have written a super illustration tonight since we way too often are like tantruming toddlers, plugging our ears, shaking our fists, stamping our little feet at His leading in our lives.
He sure is gracious and patient with us. His plans are to prosper and not to harm us.
Thanks for lots of deep thought here tonight, dear friend. And how is that leg coming along? I’m lifting you up to the Healer …
The power of “No” cannot be underestimated. You speak wisdom here Ceil. Thanks.
Such a beautiful description of how we try everything our way first…thinking that we know what we are doing…only to find that we need Him to show us our way. Beautifully written, my friend. Praying for you as you recuperate. xo
This story makes me laugh because I can totally see my sons doing this. They are creatures of habit – so much so that it borders on OCD. But then I wonder how much I’m the same. How not only do I follow the same routines, but I tend to get stuck in the same sins again and again.
Oh my gosh! This is EXACTLY how I felt this past December after a long semester. I decided to start saying no and it has felt so good. Always an encouraging visit when I stop in here 🙂
I love how assuring God’s promises are. Thanks for reminding me again that I’m in good hands.
Your reflection definitely struck a familiar note with me. For me the zipper was one of the sisters I lived with at the time. I remember saying that I was tired. She started listing all the committees I was on and the extra activities I had taken on in addition to my regular ministry. I explained that I found it hard to say No when someone asked me to be part of a particular group or activity. She just smiled and said, “Next time that happens you just say, ‘Let me get back to you about that.” Then you come and talk to me and I’ll help you figure out how to say No.” I didn’t do too well with it at that point in my life but as years have passed, I’ve gotten a bit better. Of course, I did just say “yes” to someone again this morning!!
What a great analogy. My battle with Lyme Disease has made me say no more often. And it’s OK. I need time to recover…I have finally realized that. I still say “yes” sometimes too, and those things I say yes to are done with a good attitude and a willing heart!
Sounds so very familiar!
Great analogy. So often I see MY WAY as best, but when I FINALLY let God have the problem, He works it out in an amazing way!
DAA-DEE – love this! You brought me right into this post and made me smile and think at the same time. Love the Bible verse you chose too. One I need to ponder and prayer with.
You have such a skill at telling a story, that has another meaning – a modern day parable! Thanks for sharing this one.
Ceil: Yes, we sometimes see God do something for us in ways we did not expect. We had one of those times yesterday and today. God was good in the long run and things have worked out. All we can do is praise the LORD when He does work things our for our betterment and for His glory.
Oh, we love to stomp our feet and tell Father *no,* don’t we? But it’s always for our good. Great analogy, Ceil! Thank you! 😀
Thank you for the wonderful story. It is indeed true that God’s ways are better than our ways. He works in mysterious ways. He won’t give us anything we can’t handle.
Ceil, you always seem to have the words that I most need to hear. I’ve been with my mom now for two weeks, and I’m exhausted. The emotions and caregiving of the past year or so have been tiring – in mind, body, and spirit. And yet, sometimes I still forget to turn to the Lord for my strength. Wearing that heavy overcoat, too tired sometimes to even want to take it off, I try and fail in my own effort to deal with life.
DAD-DEE!
I echo that prayer, as I need Him so.
GOD BLESS!
Oh this is just so good Ceil! I think most of our struggles are simply because we expect things to go the way we think is best… and we scream “DADDY!!” when we close our ears to what Daddy is trying to tell us!
Good for YOU for making that much needed decision to scale back! God can’t use a frazzled worn out lady… That’s what I tell myself when I am ‘in’ too deep and not pacing myself.
Ah yes! So hard to let go of how we have always done things! And so hard to say no, even when we need to!
That scripture is one of my favorites. It is hard to say no sometimes, especially at first. But it does get easier and eases things, as you’ve found out. Glad you are finding a better balance. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Oh, it’s so much easier if we just let Him slide the coat off His way. Those times I try to control how to fix something usually ends up with me in more pain…
Great post Ceil.
Great example of how we often fight against what God is doing in our lives when really all He wants is what is best for us. If we would only relax and let Him “get out of the coat we are bound up in”…Love ya Ceil : )
Parents always know the best way–because parents have done things the wrong way enough. Kids have to learn to do things the wrong way, too, though, so someday they’ll be able to show their own children the right way. There’s a greater lesson in that for all of us!