This evening, the kids helped Adam work outside. They were moving rocks from a pile into a wheelbarrow and then spreading the rocks out in the driveway. Most of the time, Adam was doing the wheelbarrow.
Then Samuel wanted to do it. Adam let him and Samuel did pretty well. Adam had to help him push just a little going up the hill but for the most part, he could do it.
The whole time Samuel was pushing it though, Danielle was right at his heels yelling, "I want to push it, Daddy! Let me push it! I want to push it!" I knew there was no way she would be strong enough, but Adam told her she could do it further up the road.
She kept asking to do it like any three year old would and finally we got to the point in the road where Adam let her try.
Then Samuel wanted to do it. Adam let him and Samuel did pretty well. Adam had to help him push just a little going up the hill but for the most part, he could do it.
The whole time Samuel was pushing it though, Danielle was right at his heels yelling, "I want to push it, Daddy! Let me push it! I want to push it!" I knew there was no way she would be strong enough, but Adam told her she could do it further up the road.
She kept asking to do it like any three year old would and finally we got to the point in the road where Adam let her try.
She tried. And pushed. And tried some more. That wheelbarrow wouldn't move.
She didn't know how to lift up while pushing and I doubt she was strong enough even if she knew how. She was determined though, and kept pushing and getting no where.
After watching her try for a bit, Adam finally walked over and gently lifted it up so she could walk with it.
He guided it and did most of the lifting and pushing, but she walked it over to where it needed to be and she was happy.
She didn't know how to lift up while pushing and I doubt she was strong enough even if she knew how. She was determined though, and kept pushing and getting no where.
After watching her try for a bit, Adam finally walked over and gently lifted it up so she could walk with it.
He guided it and did most of the lifting and pushing, but she walked it over to where it needed to be and she was happy.
The whole ordeal made me chuckle but I couldn't help but see a bit of human nature in Dani. What immediately came to mind was something that we tend to do as Christians.
Maybe you see someone else do something that you want to do... maybe even feel called to do. God knows you aren't capable of doing it yet, especially not in your current condition so He has you wait a little while. Meanwhile, you get impatient in the waiting, whine a bit, explain to God why you are so incredibly capable of handling what that other person can handle, and pray over and over that He lets you do it. Eventually, God may find an easier avenue to let you try out doing what you are so desperate to do. He will probably even let you try it in your own strength first. (It's way harder.) Then, once you realize you can't do it on your own, you'll look to God (probably beg) and He will enable you and He will help you accomplish it so you get a taste of what it's like. But through the ordeal, you will also recognize there's probably a reason why God was making you wait in the first place. Also, I bet as time goes on, if you wait on His timing, you'll eventually be able to do it the way He intended you to.
This scenario doesn't happen to everyone. But it's happened to me and I know it has happened to enough people to be common. Wait on Him. God knows what's best for us. He knows what we are strong enough to handle.
If you're a CrossFitter, you can use the scenario of someone wanting to lift way more than they are capable of. (My coaches know I am occasionally guilty of this.) The coach knows there's no way, the fellow athletes know there's no way, but that person really wants to try it. There's a difference in being willing to make the jump when you're strong enough and can handle it and trying to make a jump that is way out of your reach. Usually the person tries it, and of course doesn't make the lift.
Patience is essential - both in weightlifting and in our Christian walk. It's not an immediate thing. It's a journey. Imagine a coach that knew absolutely everything about you and everything you were capable of before you even tried. That's God. He knows you. And we have to trust His timing and leadership.
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