Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Just call me Hulk Hogan...

I grew up watching WWF with my dad.  Yes, I can tell you all about the Macho Man, Randy Savage and the Ultimate Warrior and of course, Hulk Hogan.  I can even remember The Undertaaaaaaker" (eww).  I'm not much into wrestling any more.  However, living in a house with 3 boys, 1 man and 1 male dog...it seems to inevitably be a part of my life.  The daily evening ritual tends to be an all out wrestling match on the rug with three little boys and their dad.

 The dog stands around and drops a slobbery squeaky ball in the midst of them occasionally.  I tend to stay out of these matches (unless provoked of course :).  However, as of late, me and baby boy have been having our own WWF.  He does not want to change his diaper.  I'll lay him down and he'll squiggle and squirm and try to roll over and kick his pants off at the same time.  While I dodge legs and arms and...um...diaper contents...I try to gently tell him that if he would just stay still for 8 seconds I could quickly be done and he could be on his way - off to smear peanut butter on my other couch.   Instead, he wrestles and cries and complains and make the process a whole lot longer.
I sometimes wonder if I do this with God.  Do I wrestle and writhe and complain when He's trying to clean me up?  Do I kick and scream when I have to just be still for a moment?  Is He just saying, gently; "Be patient, it will be over sooner if you just be still and trust'?. 
In Isaiah 30, we see the Lord in a 'wrestling' match with His children;

15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it."



Oh yes, there are times when I will have none of it.  Just depending on my own strength and letting fears and anxieties drive away quietness and trust. 
 
Then He so graciously says;
 
"18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!"
 
Lord, I pray that I will cease to struggle against you and wait patiently on you.  You long to be gracious to me and to rise up and show me compassion.  What a blessing this could be as I stop wrestling. 
 
Blessings Friends 
 
 
This is me at my wrestling finest...and the little culprit in the diaper...:)