So, there's this 4 year old girl at my church. Very cute. And I've noticed that her pattern of walking changes when she is in a room of seated adults.
She walks backwards with her butt stuck out.
She continues in reverse until her butt meets someone's lap, and then she hops up.
I am so struck by that. She has perfect confidence that her need for comfort will be met. She has perfect confidence that when she needs a soft lap, or a cuddle, or a safe place to get out of the way, or a quiet place to nap and have a moment with her thumb... that it will always be there.
I've been having some poweful conversations/emails/comments with a few people about our issues with acceptance and rejection, with lonelyness and the ache of "not being chosen". And the difference between then and me, the reason why I have valued their presence so much, is that in their relationship with God, they have that little girl's posture. They approach Father God backwards with their butt stuck out. I'm not sure if they would recognize it that way, but they share that holy confidence that when they need comfort, Abba will be there. It's extraordinary really.
I circle the chair a few times... touch the seat to make sure it will support my weight... look around the room to see if anyone else might be available. And in the mean time, I spend needless time wrestling on my own.
I'd like to learn to walk like that.
15 comments:
This is a great post. It is a very simple analogy, but it says a great deal. As my father-in-law has said in the past, "We know God as much as we choose to know God".
We all need to take a cue from that little girl. She knows tthat someone will always be there to pick her up and take care of her. We too should know that there is always someone there to pick us up and take care of us.
Shared the company of a little girl this past weekend who knows she is wonderful, because God said so. Love that too, the confidence of her knowledge. I/we crave the assurance of that love.
My father used to say, "That's just ass backwards." Sounds great. He didn't mean it as a compliment, but now I think it may be one. Thanks.
This is such a glorious picture of trust, grace and unconditional love! I have just shared it at work here.
What I think is most interesting is that she doesn't "see" the lap - her heart tells her is it always there waiting for her.
You stop long enough to see things...and that's probably why your analogies speak so well to us.
THE OFFICIAL ASSHOLE REGISTER IS NOW OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS!!
Yea... I think you just nominated yourself... right here.
And to rest like that!
What a beautiful post. Thank you.
I hope we can visit soon. I'm sorry it didn't happen earlier. It would have been fun to have a birthday visit. I guess you now know what was going on in my life. Yeah...we must visit. Soon.
Wonderful post. The imagry is amazing. Found you through a friend.
Isn't that the wonderful thing about children? They just know that they are loved, most of them. and they do it to their hearts content. The beauty of a child. What a precious little girl. WOuld make me chuckle if I ever saw that.
Lovely image. Not easy, walking by faith...ass backwards as it were. Thing is to keep trusting God will be there when we've fallen on our butts more than a few times in the past. That keeps me stepping gingerly, checking in my rear view mirror...a little tentative like you. A Thomas at heart. Bless children for their utter trust.
I finally had an opportunity to read about the little girl and her confidence in finding comfort. Little people can teach you so much - they are an incredible gift if you pay attention. This analogy is amazing. Thank you.
b-u-tifull!
i love this idea - so wish this could be me, but i'm standing on the wall, protecting my butt for all i'm worth. i don't even want a chair thank you - i'll be just fine standing... sigh.
Thanks for the post. It's fantastic! I wish i could walk like that little girl too. That girl's posture is so beautiful and lovely.
hmmmm... Butt first.
Wow, what a simple image of faith.
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