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I started this journey just a few years ago. The Bible verse given in our Character Sketches Volume 2 book is I Peter 5:5-6“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” I do have to admit that pride is a key reason I struggle with flexibility. After all, how dare those inconvenient interruptions interfere with MY plans? I Peter 5 goes on in verse 7 to say, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Have you noticed how hard it is to be prideful when you give your cares to God. Likewise, it’s impossible not to worry when you feel like your rights are being imposed upon. When we realize we own nothing ourselves, but all things belong to God, our attitudes start to change. God puts things in our care temporarily and we are to be good stewards, but He does allow situations to change. It’s sad that I tend to be more flexible during weather related interruptions than I am with the people in my life. Send me a blizzard or ice storm and I see an adventure. Send a tornado or prairie fire and I see the Hand of God. Let the animals escape the fence or the children get hungry before I’m ready to fix a meal and I’m frustrated and grouchy. Verse 8 of I Peter 5 reminds us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” We are devoured more with our own words and actions than that of others against us. I personally have a problem with ‘perpetual foot-in-mouth syndrome.’ I seem to constantly be in the process of learning to think and pray first, before letting my tongue loose. Skipping to verse 10, we gain a gem of encouragement: “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” If we continue to pursue true flexibility, giving the care of each and every situation to our Father in Heaven; He promises to give us grace and to perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us. Do you feel vastly imperfect today? I know I do! Do you feel weak, tired, and restless? Me too! I need HIS Grace!
The most recent situation in which I've had to practice Flexibility is with our poor old house. You know the song, “This Old House”? I’m feeling that song with THIS old house. We recently had an unexpected visitor. Le Mouse came to visit. He (or she as only the cat now knows) was NOT invited. It is NEVER a good time for such a visit. I spent most of December planning for a successful 2014. I started the first 10 days of the year with a bang, complementing my self on my flexibility no less! Then… in the middle of the night… *scratch, scratch, scratch* “What’s that?” I say. Hubby whispers back, “I’m pretty sure it’s a mouse,” and the big brave man that he is; he hands me a flashlight. I prop myself up on the bed, flashlight in hand; not about to put my feet on the floor lest nasty little visitor decide to scamper across my delicate little toes and make me wake the house with my scream. I wiggled things around… banged on the wall… and heard nothing more… Needless to say, it was NOT a restful night. In the morning, AFTER my coffee, I began a more thorough investigation. Sure enough! A hole in the wall! Poopy little tracks on the floor! YUCK! Thus began a week long overhaul of “This Old House.”
I used to rearrange several times a year and clean our whole house, but I’m not as ambitious as I used to be. (I'm feeling old!) I am sooooo glad I have such great helpers now. The boys are getting quite strong and can move most of the furniture and stuff themselves. It’s great. I just point and direct. We took everything except the bed and my dresser out of our room and mopped the whole thing. That always makes things smell so fresh! I used a new vinegar and herb concoction I’ve had soaking in a jar since summer. Then we started on the boys’ room, which is right next to ours and swapped dressers around. I gave them the big buffet for a dresser, so they each have a drawer and shelves in the cabinet. So much easier for them to stack their jeans and overalls in. The drawers are nice and deep, so they hold everything and still shut. (An accomplishment with boys.) Then we moved into the dining room and made a new set of shelves all along the 10 foot south wall. It’s not pretty, but it takes up less floor space than the buffet did and it will be so nice to have all the school books in one room. We purged and stored everything else that would not fit. (…how did I have all that stuff in there to begin with?)
Needless to say, I’m tired. I got grouchy and impatient. Every time I took a break, my helpers disappeared to the wind. Things had to be done several times before they were just right. We had several lessons in attentiveness and following instructions. In the process, I am continuing to learn Flexibility. Early spring cleaning was NOT in my plan this year. (at least not yet…) There were so many other things on my list. I got quite overwhelmed. I wore myself out trying to accomplish more than my body could handle. Another lesson learned. (I hope!)
If you've never seen IBLP Character Sketches, I encourage you to check them out. They have been an invaluable resource in our homeschool. Have a great week!
The most recent situation in which I've had to practice Flexibility is with our poor old house. You know the song, “This Old House”? I’m feeling that song with THIS old house. We recently had an unexpected visitor. Le Mouse came to visit. He (or she as only the cat now knows) was NOT invited. It is NEVER a good time for such a visit. I spent most of December planning for a successful 2014. I started the first 10 days of the year with a bang, complementing my self on my flexibility no less! Then… in the middle of the night… *scratch, scratch, scratch* “What’s that?” I say. Hubby whispers back, “I’m pretty sure it’s a mouse,” and the big brave man that he is; he hands me a flashlight. I prop myself up on the bed, flashlight in hand; not about to put my feet on the floor lest nasty little visitor decide to scamper across my delicate little toes and make me wake the house with my scream. I wiggled things around… banged on the wall… and heard nothing more… Needless to say, it was NOT a restful night. In the morning, AFTER my coffee, I began a more thorough investigation. Sure enough! A hole in the wall! Poopy little tracks on the floor! YUCK! Thus began a week long overhaul of “This Old House.”
I used to rearrange several times a year and clean our whole house, but I’m not as ambitious as I used to be. (I'm feeling old!) I am sooooo glad I have such great helpers now. The boys are getting quite strong and can move most of the furniture and stuff themselves. It’s great. I just point and direct. We took everything except the bed and my dresser out of our room and mopped the whole thing. That always makes things smell so fresh! I used a new vinegar and herb concoction I’ve had soaking in a jar since summer. Then we started on the boys’ room, which is right next to ours and swapped dressers around. I gave them the big buffet for a dresser, so they each have a drawer and shelves in the cabinet. So much easier for them to stack their jeans and overalls in. The drawers are nice and deep, so they hold everything and still shut. (An accomplishment with boys.) Then we moved into the dining room and made a new set of shelves all along the 10 foot south wall. It’s not pretty, but it takes up less floor space than the buffet did and it will be so nice to have all the school books in one room. We purged and stored everything else that would not fit. (…how did I have all that stuff in there to begin with?)
Needless to say, I’m tired. I got grouchy and impatient. Every time I took a break, my helpers disappeared to the wind. Things had to be done several times before they were just right. We had several lessons in attentiveness and following instructions. In the process, I am continuing to learn Flexibility. Early spring cleaning was NOT in my plan this year. (at least not yet…) There were so many other things on my list. I got quite overwhelmed. I wore myself out trying to accomplish more than my body could handle. Another lesson learned. (I hope!)
If you've never seen IBLP Character Sketches, I encourage you to check them out. They have been an invaluable resource in our homeschool. Have a great week!
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