Last week I had the privilege of staying in my little place while my sister was here to care for our Mom. Each night when it's getting dark, I go around and close my blinds and curtains which makes me feel safe and cozy. I pulled down the roll blind over the kitchen sink, as usual, and started to fix my supper. CRASH! The entire roll blind had fallen out of the window knocking over my Willow Tree angel as it fell. What in the world?! Pulling out my step stool, I reattached it and all was well. The next morning, when I went to put it up, it would only go to a certain point and then stop, still covering half of the window. No matter what I tried, it stopped right there and would go no further. Where is Keegan when I need him? You see, my son, Keegan, is a genius. This summer while they were visiting, I had another roll-blind-with-attitude scenario which I wrote down, but never posted. I think now is the time...
There I was fighting with the crazy roll blind that obviously thought it was a gorgeous, sunny day and it needed to be rolled up tight to protect itself and let all the sun stream into the room. Meanwhile I wanted it down to conserve electricity and and keep the air-conditioner from coming on all the time. I tried the gentle tug, the quick wrist action, and the start over from the top approach, but the blind was very uncooperative.
"Mom, Mom", my son says placatingly, "here, let me." At first touch, ZING, the blind happily rolled all the way up with a little extra flip for effect. Laughingly I told Keegan, "I think the blind just blew you a raspberry or stuck its tongue out at you!" The blind was enjoying itself. Not to be dissuaded, my engineering son spent all of 2 seconds with the blind and it magically obeyed. Just like that!
"All you have to do," he demonstrated, "is pull the blind towards you a little and it will stop where you want it." Ha! Guess what? It works EVERY time! (Well...almost.) Who knew it was so simple? Obviously, not me. I guess I should feel stupid, but I don't. It's a good opportunity to laugh at myself and my silly blind, plus now every time I open or close that blind the memory of our little exchange makes me smile. When it works, I smile with satisfaction and the blind keeps a straight face.
There can be so many little annoyances in life and times when we feel silly or stupid. In this scenario, I was thankful for my son's presence and the fact that, in many ways, I've gotten over myself. If someone else thinks I'm silly or stupid, that's OK. I'm glad I could laugh at my ignorance of how these blinds work and rejoice over my son being the hero of the moment and conqueror of the blind.
These days people seem to have a need to prove something and be their own hero. A need to know and do everything on their own or even worse be smarter or better than someone else. "I don't need help. I don't need you or anyone." Why are we so bent on being independent? or smarter than those around us? or trying to prove our worth? or prove something, anything? What are we afraid of? And why so much anger along with it?
It is hard to ask for help sometimes and I'm as guilty of that as anyone. I don't want to bother others or use up their time. However, that thinking can rob others of the joy of lending a hand, or feeling useful and needed. Stepping aside and letting my son have a go at the blind allowed him to help his Mom and then turned my focus from frustration and myself to thanking him for helping me. We had a good laugh and we all felt good.
I know I need Jesus and I need other people in my life too. I am dependent on Jesus for my very life and daily well-being and in that is a lot of freedom. I don't have to prove my worth. He loved me way before I ever loved Him and He knows more about me than I do myself. As drawing the blind to me caused it to obey, the more I draw close to Jesus, the more I want to obey Him and the more I realize it's not about me anyway. Romans 12 gives great insight into these thoughts. Take a moment and read the entire chapter. I won't copy it all here, but will leave you with several verses to ponder.
Romans 12
2 Do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you
not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,
but to think with sober judgment,
each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection.
Outdo one another in showing honor.
16 Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.
Never be wise in your own sight.
17 Repay no one evil for evil,
but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
