It's disturbing! It grips your heart! The distinctive cry of a young child in distress. On a plane, in the store, at the park, perhaps at church, when we hear the penetrating wails of a young voice it provokes an immediate response in us. Our instinct is to run to the aid, to snatch up the child and sooth their spirit. But often, our attempts to calm the child only meet with continued cries and tears and in some cases only escalate the distress. The child is not settled until they reach the loving embrace of their mother. Cuddled in their mother's arms the wails give way to whimpers and eventually calm.
When my oldest daughter was just an young child, she would sing herself to sleep as we rocked with what I called her "sleepy song." She would hum four tones in succession over and over again until she was completely relaxed and fell off to sleep. I noted that if I wanted her to take a nap all I had to do was begin singing her sleepy song as I rocked her and before long she would join me humming and her little eyes would close, her body go limp and she was out.
But I discovered it also worked when she was in distress or fussy or frustrated. I could simply gather her in my arms, begin the rocking motion, hum the sleepy song and before long her spirit calmed and all was right with the world again. As she got older, the sleepy song was less effective. The lap time became less and less. There were worlds to explore and expressions of independence. She's grown, moved away and married today, but I've wondered what would happen if she was ever in distress, came home, climbed into my lap and I started to sing the sleepy song.
We all found comfort in our mother's or perhaps father's arms when were infants. I did. Even as I was older, the gentle touch of my mother's hand to my forehead or face would calm my spirit or bring reassurance. But just like all children we must grow up. And with growing up comes our independence. We rely more and more on ourselves as it should be. We have worlds to explore and conquer. We fall down and we pick ourselves up and move on or at least that is what we're told we should do.
But sometimes it's that independence that causes us to stop seeking God. With all the pressures of life we tend to live in a constant state of stress or distress. But when circumstances become bigger than we can control, it sends our stress level off the charts and then irritability, anger, frustration play out in unhealthy expressions. Our stress or distress gives way to desperation. Desperation isn't a good thing and often causes us to do dumb things that only get us into deeper trouble.
Before we reach that level we need to come back and visit Psalm 131 again. It's a short Psalm, only 3 verses, but with a powerful principle to remember especially when we're facing tough stuff. King David talks about the importance of our dependence on God. He says that we need to put things in perspective and notes that some things are just bigger than us. In verse 2 he paints the picture of being like a small child that calms his spirit by climbing into his mother's arms and lap and finding contentment there.
Maybe we all need a sleepy song. In times of distress we climb into God's arms and hum with Him our sleepy song. God created us with the gift of independence, but He also created us with a desire for Him. Being independent doesn't mean that we reject or run from dependence on God. In fact it's because of our independence that God gives us the opportunity to choose. Choosing dependence upon Him is the right choice, unless we want to live in constant distress and turmoil. I have found that it takes a real man, a real woman who is willing to admit that they need help, especially God's help and then relinquish things to Him.
God, I'm not that bright, yet for some reason I find myself trying to take all matters into my own hands. I know I don't have the answers, especially when things are completely out of my control. I know that nothing is too big for you or out of your control. Yet, once again, I wrap myself up in all of it and the distress overwhelms me. I need you to sing me my sleepy song to calm my spirit. I know that means coming to you and climbing into your lap and putting everything in your hands. I need you to calm my spirit and bring me your peace and contentment.
When my oldest daughter was just an young child, she would sing herself to sleep as we rocked with what I called her "sleepy song." She would hum four tones in succession over and over again until she was completely relaxed and fell off to sleep. I noted that if I wanted her to take a nap all I had to do was begin singing her sleepy song as I rocked her and before long she would join me humming and her little eyes would close, her body go limp and she was out.
But I discovered it also worked when she was in distress or fussy or frustrated. I could simply gather her in my arms, begin the rocking motion, hum the sleepy song and before long her spirit calmed and all was right with the world again. As she got older, the sleepy song was less effective. The lap time became less and less. There were worlds to explore and expressions of independence. She's grown, moved away and married today, but I've wondered what would happen if she was ever in distress, came home, climbed into my lap and I started to sing the sleepy song.
We all found comfort in our mother's or perhaps father's arms when were infants. I did. Even as I was older, the gentle touch of my mother's hand to my forehead or face would calm my spirit or bring reassurance. But just like all children we must grow up. And with growing up comes our independence. We rely more and more on ourselves as it should be. We have worlds to explore and conquer. We fall down and we pick ourselves up and move on or at least that is what we're told we should do.
But sometimes it's that independence that causes us to stop seeking God. With all the pressures of life we tend to live in a constant state of stress or distress. But when circumstances become bigger than we can control, it sends our stress level off the charts and then irritability, anger, frustration play out in unhealthy expressions. Our stress or distress gives way to desperation. Desperation isn't a good thing and often causes us to do dumb things that only get us into deeper trouble.
Before we reach that level we need to come back and visit Psalm 131 again. It's a short Psalm, only 3 verses, but with a powerful principle to remember especially when we're facing tough stuff. King David talks about the importance of our dependence on God. He says that we need to put things in perspective and notes that some things are just bigger than us. In verse 2 he paints the picture of being like a small child that calms his spirit by climbing into his mother's arms and lap and finding contentment there.
Maybe we all need a sleepy song. In times of distress we climb into God's arms and hum with Him our sleepy song. God created us with the gift of independence, but He also created us with a desire for Him. Being independent doesn't mean that we reject or run from dependence on God. In fact it's because of our independence that God gives us the opportunity to choose. Choosing dependence upon Him is the right choice, unless we want to live in constant distress and turmoil. I have found that it takes a real man, a real woman who is willing to admit that they need help, especially God's help and then relinquish things to Him.
God, I'm not that bright, yet for some reason I find myself trying to take all matters into my own hands. I know I don't have the answers, especially when things are completely out of my control. I know that nothing is too big for you or out of your control. Yet, once again, I wrap myself up in all of it and the distress overwhelms me. I need you to sing me my sleepy song to calm my spirit. I know that means coming to you and climbing into your lap and putting everything in your hands. I need you to calm my spirit and bring me your peace and contentment.
No comments:
Post a Comment