Friday, April 12, 2013

Taking Control of the Wheel

Have you had this happen?

A friend and I took our kids and my big ole SUV on a day trip.

At one point, we were parking in a parking garage...and I promptly ran my car into one of the pylons in the center of the structure.

No real damage done to the vehicle...just another "beauty mark" for my ride...

...and a bit of embarrassment for me.

As I continued to struggle with squaring up in a spot I knew I had no business trying to park in in the first place, my sweet friend asked if I wanted her to park 'er.

Increased embarrassment...and more than a little stubbornness.

I hope I didn't snap when I gave her an emphatic "no."

Fast forward to Wednesday night services...

A sweet friend told me she prayed for me and the boys as she walked by my house earlier in the day, thinking of how hard it must be at times to be a single mom.

We talked of the common elements in hardship and of the importance of surrender in walking the path...whichever path...the Lord has given you.

I couldn't help but think about my driving.

Since Keith died, I can probably count the number of times I have ridden instead of driven on both hands.  Only driver in the house, biggest car when we ride with others.  So...I am rarely the passenger.

Except when it comes to the Lord.

There...always...I need to be the passenger and let Him be the driver.

So, I resolve to quit holding stubbornly to the driver's seat.  Unlike parking my car the other day, I need to willingly give Him my troubles, really just park them at the foot of the cross.

And leave them there.

All it takes is surrender...constant surrender.

Not an easy concept, especially in our pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps American society, but that is my goal.

May I be willing to surrender all the things in my life, both large and small, to Him and His infinite wisdom. 

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? - Mark 8:34-36

2 comments:

  1. HI friend- I just wanted to encourage you in your writing. You have a gift for taking the simple and ordinary as an object lesson for His truth. Your journey is unique and it will open many doors for you to share your story and His grace. Joy, Joy, Joy, in little things, in big things, in making it through another day as a single mama! Love, hugs and hope! Danita

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  2. Thanks so much, Danita! Thanks for taking time to come and visit my blog! Your words have given me much comfort! Praying that I can make a difference too!

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