Friday, January 27, 2012

Growing in Wisdom (part 2)

(Read, Growing in Wisdom part 1 to put this event in proper context).  

As we were coming back from dance class, I was pulling into the driveway, and began to roll up all the electric windows. Carissa was in her car seat in the backseat, and she decided she was going to go against what her parent was doing, be disobedient and defiant, and roll down her window. I responded by proceeding to roll her window up, and she decided she was going to stop what her parent was doing, be contrary, and place her hand on top of her window to prevent it from being rolled up. I did not know she was doing that, until from the backseat I hear a loud cry for help. I jump out of my seat, and run to her rescue to find her cradling her damaged finger. My only concern was to comfort her, to releave her pain as much as possible, and to check out the damage. I cried out to Jesus, Lord heal my daughter's wound. We rushed into our home, and I placed a bag of frozen vegetables on her hand. While she laid flat out on the couch with the bag of frozen veggies on her hand, deeply crying in agonizing pain, I had to make the emotionally painful choice to take the phone into another room with me, so I could hear the the doctor's receptionist. Unfortunately they were booked, and I had to go to the ER. 

While we were driving to the ER, Carissa says, "Momma I forgive you." I asked her, What are you forgiving me for? And she said with a slightly disturbed attitude, "for hurting my hand." I asked her, Was that really my fault? I did not do that on purpose. I did not know your hand was on the window. Who was being naughty, disobeying & defying her parent by putting her hand on top of the window, and tried to stop Momma from what she was doing? Carissa said, " Oh, I did, but I got hurt." I could see how this was going to be a teachable moment for Carissa & I. This was a time for Carissa to grow in wisdom. Sometimes it is painful to grow in wisdom. I lovingly explained to my child that her naughty, disobedient, defiant behavior of refusing to listen and obey is what caused her to get hurt, and now she is suffering in pain, for her bad choice. 

I explained to her that bad choices not only hurt others, but hurt ourselves too. While we sat in the ER, I got to take the time to explain to my beautiful daughter the difference between being disobedient and being defiant. If Momma or Daddy tell you to roll up the window and you refuse, that is being disobedient, because you are not doing what we asked you to do, you are not obeying. Now when you rolled down your window, and did the complete opposite of what Momma & Daddy are telling you to do you are being defiant & contrary, then when you placed your hand on top of the window to prevent it from going up you were . . . 
and then I was lost for words, so Carissa finished by saying Dumb and Stupid (words we do not use, but certain classmates have used these words to tease one another). I asked Carissa if she knew the meaning of Dumb and Stupid, and she said no, so I explained to her that it means to be very foolish, to not use good judgement, and to go against what we are taught by our parents and GOD. Carissa said, so being dumb, stupid, and foolish is a sin? I replied to her, yes honey when we are being dumb, stupid, and foolish we are sinning against GOD. It is what we refer to as a Contrary Spirit which causes us to go against GOD. I asked Carissa, Do you know anyone in the Bible that told people to go against GOD? Carissa said, Yes! The serpent in the garden told Adam & Eve to eat the apple when GOD told them not to eat it. 

Carissa said with confusion, "But Momma I didn't know that was going to happen!" (referring to her hand getting hurt & damaged in the car window) I told her Adam & Eve didn't know what was going to happen to them when they went against GOD either. I know you didn't know what was going to happen either, that is why you must always trust, obey, and know that Mommy & Daddy loves you & knows best, especially when you don't understand something, and don't want to do something your parent's way which is GOD's way, and insist on doing it your way, because that caused you to really get hurt, and we love you and don't want you to get hurt. Do you understand? Honey you could have gotten hurt a lot worse. It could have gotten broken so badly to the extent that the doctors could not repair it back to normal. We praise you Jesus that you are right now in the process of healing Carissa's finger, and is not broken. 

While we waited in the ER lobby for over an hour our discussion helped to take the focus off of her pain, and Christ was healing Carissa's finger. In just little over an hour, Carissa was able to fully bend it, grasp things, hold things, and completely use her hand as if it never got hurt. Hallelujah! We Praise You Jesus! We told the receptionist that Carissa did not need to be examined by the triage nurse, and the receptionist said since the triage nurse has not seen you, you wont be charged. 

Carissa's learning experience got me thinking, and now Carissa's Momma is growing in wisdom too. 

Reflecting back on Carissa's experience, Isn't that how we often are with our Holy Parent GOD? GOD is doing something in our life, then we put our hand to it, trying to interfere, prevent what GOD is doing, because we don't understand, and all we know is what we want, and we don't want to wait to do it His Way. Then when we get hurt, by interfering, being disobedient, defiant, and contrary, our foolish sinful pride cries out in pain -- It's Your fault! You did this to me! I don't understand. Why would You hurt me? 

It is only when we sacrifice our foolish & sinful pride in the Holy Fire of Truth, that we understand that it was our choice, our responsibility, and our fault for being disobedient, defiant, and contrary thinking we knew better than our Holy Parent, and put our hand in the middle of something that it didn't belong, and it is we who are to blame for getting crushed, not our Holy Parent. Our society tells us it is not right to find fault. However, if we had a faulty window that did not work right, we would have to take it to an expert specialist to investigate the cause in order to fix the problem. It is very important to know when it is our fault, and when it is not, and what faulty part did we have when things went bad. 

Praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit Who is our Expert Specialist & Helper that lovingly & compassionately convicts us when it is in fact our fault. With a humble & repentant heart, we realize it is not GOD that needs to be forgiven, but us. The Bible teaches us that we must examine ourselves, and we should ask, Is there anything that I am still blaming GOD for, when it was my bad choice? Dear Lord I ask that you forgive me for blaming you when it was my fault. If we are faithful to confess it with a repentant heart, He is faithful to forgive it with His Holy Heart & Amazing Grace, and then we are blessed to grow even closer to Christ.

It really is about trusting that our parent knows best even when we don't understand, or don't want to do what we have been told. We need to just remind ourself, my parent knows best. We praise You Lord for those teachable moments in life, no matter how painful they are to learn. Here are some Great Scriptures on the importance of growing in wisdom. The Bible teaches us that even Christ grew in Wisdom. Luke 2:52

Proverbs 2:6, Proverbs 4:5, Psalm 90:12,  Proverbs 4:7, Proverbs 16:16, Proverbs 19:8, Romans 11:33, Colossians 1:9, Colossians 4:5, 1 Corinthians 3:19, Psalm 104:24, Psalm 136:5James 1:5, Psalm 119:34, Psalm 51:6: 1 James 3:17, 1 Corinthians 1:24, Job 12:12-13, Proverbs 28:26, Proverbs 23:4, Colossians 2:3, Ephesians 3:10Revelation 5:12, Jeremiah 10:12, Proverbs 3:19, Proverbs 21:30

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