Mirror Image
Saturday was grass-cutting day. This is a chore I
dread due to my lack of strength in being able to start the lawnmower. Since
some tasks are easier for men, and starting a lawnmower is one of them,
sometimes I do succeed in getting it started, but not this day. Have you heard
that women can do almost anything a man can? Well, that sounds good, but from
my experience, it isn't always so. God created us differently. I've come to
realize this more and more since I lost my husband.
Before I had time to complain to God about my predicament, I
saw my neighbor in his yard. I quickly went over to ask him to start the
lawnmower. My neighbor, Mike, stopped what he was doing, and came right over to
help.
The youngest of his children, three-year-old Ross, was
standing with him. I watched the little boy follow right behind him, almost
matching him step-by-step. This time the lawnmower wouldn't start, even for
him. Mike immediately went to get his tools to fix the problem. As he started
to his garage, so did his little boy. He returned with a few tools in hand, and
walking with him, holding some of his play tools, was Ross. Mike stooped down
and began looking at the lawnmower, unscrewing nuts and bolts, with Ross
stooping right beside him, imitating everything he did. It was a picture I will
carry with me for a long time, father and son sharing such a special bond.
In a few moments, the oldest son joined the pair fixing the
lawnmower. Christopher looked at me, and with great confidence in his Dad's
abilities said, "if it can be fixed, my Dad can do it." I was now
observing the father's bond with the eldest, as well as the youngest child.
God showed me a few nuggets of truth, right there in my own
front yard.
1. I need to be childlike, just as those two boys were with
their father.
I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like
little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt: 18:4).
2. I am to imitate my heavenly Father, just as the youngest
one did his earthly dad. I need to be close to Him, watching and learning.
3. Like the oldest son, I need to have confidence in my
Heavenly Father. I know my God can fix anything! This son's confidence in his
dad was based on knowing him and seeing him fix things before. He had been
where the youngest was now sitting. There was no doubt in his mind, he was
confident that his dad could fix my lawnmower.
Do I have that same confidence in God? Do I know my heavenly
Father as those two boys know their earthly dad?
By Kathy Schultz
Guest
Writer
