Like Mary

When an angel announced to Mary what changes the future held for her, she asked,
"How shall this be . . .?"
From her perspective, she could not fathom how what she had been told could be possible.
When the angel reminded her that "with God nothing shall be impossible", she submitted humbly, saying,
" . . .be it unto me according to thy word."1

My grandson, Jefferson, loves to buckle the strap on his booster seat. As soon as he is lifted into the chair, he wants to buckle the strap. The moment he is lifted down after a meal, he immediately turns and re-buckles the strap. No one ever taught him to do it - it is a self-appointed duty that he has performed since he was first able to, and one he will not forbear.
One day Jeff had climbed up into his booster seat in anticipation of dinner and was trying to buckle the strap, but to no avail. He could not do it. He tried and tried, becoming more and more agitated as he tried. His father, seeing the problem, walked over, put his hands under Jeff's arms and began to lift.
"NO, NO, NO!" cried Jeff. From his perspective, his father was preventing him from accomplishing what he most wanted to do.
Actually, his father was only lifting Jefferson to re-position him. Jeff hadn't scooted back far enough in his chair, and so the straps could not possibly reach around him to be buckled. "I'm helping you, Jefferson," his father had said. And what his father did assured Jefferson's success.

Watching this, I thought, "How many times have I cried out, "NO!" when my Heavenly Father has only been re-positioning me to assure my success?"
Could it be that sometimes when things do not go as we would want, One who sees from a higher perspective, and who knows our potential, could actually be using our circumstances to help us become who He knows we can become? And could it be that He is in essence saying, as C.S. Lewis suggested, "Peace, child; you don't understand"? 2

Many times in the last few years I have felt like crying out, "NO!" I don't want to have to make changes! It is frightening to do new things and accept new challenges. However, looking back and seeing where those changes have brought me, I see God's hand in my life, helping me to stretch and grow.
Maybe someday I'll get to the point where, when I feel His loving hands under my arms beginning to lift, I'll look up with complete trust and say, "Thank You. Do whatever You need to do."
Like Mary. "Be it unto me according to thy word."


1 Luke 1:34-38
2 C.S. Lewis A Grief Observed p.69