The Spirit is Willing but the Flesh is Weak

I am hosting a baby shower this morning for a mom I work with who chose life over abortion. Since I am running the shower myself with the help of Cities 4 Life volunteers who gathered supplies, I had to go pick up a full van of equipment and gifts at a storage unit yesterday. This was in between the top-to-bottom cleaning of our house which goes on the market today. It actually already has a showing this afternoon. (For the record, vacuuming with a broken rib hurts.)

I arrived at the shower supply storage facility to discover that the helpers to load my van were two very pregnant ladies. I could not help at all because of my broken rib. One of the ladies brought the only able-bodied member of our crew, her thirteen-year-old son.

Praise God for him, since the rest of us all had lifting restrictions. One mama is literally due with her new baby any day. We may be weak in our bodies, but I think our hearts are in the right place, and frankly, the only part of me that isn't broken.

It was very difficult to stand by and watch two very pregnant mamas load my van with all kinds of large and bulky equipment. One hefted the equipment and her toddler.
 

I thought once again how wonderful the people are who volunteer for Cities 4 Life. They're really special human beings. I also considered this verse: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)

That verse actually applies to trying to follow Jesus but instead, falling so often into sin. However, I considered it in another context. Sometimes our bodies fail us even though what we want to do with our bodies is useful and good. We are forced to rely on others, and especially on God. This is very hard when we are normally competent and strong. Sometimes we ignore our limitations and forget that the flesh is indeed weak.

An illustration of this is after I left the storage place, a huge diaper box was blocking my rear view in the car. So I stopped, twisted around, and pushed it into a better position. BIG mistake. My rib felt like I had busted it all over again. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Really weak. And sore.
 

That picture above is of my van loaded to the gills with supplies, clothes, and equipment for the first two years of the mama's new baby's life. She never knew when she headed to the abortion center that she would meet so many people determined to help her choose life instead.

Our flesh may be weak...but the Spirit of God is tremendously strong. He overcame the abortive mama's fears, and placed her on the path that collided with two very pregnant women, and a cancer survivor with a broken rib who loaded a van bit by bit with pieces of the Father's Love and Provision. (And a sweet thirteen-year-old boy who smiled throughout, and hefted the heaviest pieces.)

Our flesh IS weak, but His Spirit is strong...and that makes all the difference.

**********
Wanna help? We sure could use it! Go to charlotte.cities4life.org
**********

Psalm 143:10 

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Luke 9:23

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.