It was a beautiful day yesterday for our last day at my folks. Now we head south again, will visit several colleges, go to a fun convention for Asherel, and then finally
home! On the last beautiful day in NY, I got to use the other function of Dad's new leaf blower -- the leaf sucker. This ingenuous attachment vacuums with hurricane force while mulching and bagging the victim. The blower attachment had been ineffectual against the leaves lodged in my mom's thick patches of pachysandra and ornamental grass. I had spent hours using the blower trying to nudge the recalcitrant leaves from where they had probably lodged for centuries. However, the vacuum sucked them up in no time (along with a bunch of freaked-out spiders.)
I just needed the right tool for the job.
This is true in all areas of life, including the spiritual. What is best to promote God's purpose at one time with one person, might be entirely different with another time and another person. Sometimes mercy is needed, sometimes grace, sometimes discipline, sometimes consequences, sometimes removal of protection, sometimes a place of refuge. I find it near impossible as a parent to know which time is best for which tool in my parenting arsenal. How God manages is beyond comprehension. Erring too often on the side of mercy, and we might not take justice seriously. Err too often on the side of judgment, and we might all lose heart. But if we don't lose heart
enough, we don't understand the enormity of our sin and the need for God...and if we lose heart
too much, we don't understand His redemptive love for us. It is an enormously difficult balancing act. I know because I am a parent, and long to get it right, but it is not easy. Not for me, anyway.
It makes me question God a little less to remember my own struggles in the proper balance of mercy and discipline. I am not God, and increasingly understand why not, but I often wish I had His wisdom when I am in the midst of the struggle.
Wait...I do!!
I at least have access to it. It is infinitely comforting that every page of His book is filled with the perfect words at the perfect time.
I just need to remember that I
do have the right tool for the job.
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I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Trust in the
Lord with all your heart, and
do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the
truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears
he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock,
and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the
one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or
which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are
evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will
your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the
way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the
left.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all
that I have said to you.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously
to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in
faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the
sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Perfect Word yet again,Vicky.
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