"I don't need no any help!"

In parenting my kids, I often see so clearly a picture of how we are in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Those of you who are parents know what I mean. Two days ago, God just spoke to me so clearly in the middle of this circumstance with my 3-year old son.

He is trying to put on this new zip-up sweatshirt with a light-up car on it. I emphasize "trying". He has the sleeves wrong-side out and just cannot figure out how to do it. As he stands and the top of the steps and struggles with it, he says "Mommy, I can't do it!" He's whining and fussing. You can see it, can't you? But, when I ask if he wants me to help, he says, "No, I don't need no any help." So, I say okay and walk away. As soon as I get out of sight, I hear him grunting and fussing, and then call me in a whiny voice saying he can't do it. Guess what happens next?

So, I return. He wants me to tell him what to do. I tell him. He still can't do it. So, he gets more frustrated. At this point, it's driving me batty to watch him struggle knowing I could put that thing on him in 15 seconds flat! But, he does not want my help. He wants my instruction, but he does not want me to do it. He wants to do it himself. I'm basically pleading, "Buddy, please let me help you put it on." We go back and forth a bit, but finally he relents and lets me put it on him. He gets to zip it up as I hold to the bottom of the zipper. All is well, and he's got a huge grin on his face as he sees the car lighting up on his jacket.

This is such a picture of us with God, isn't it? "Thanks God for the instruction and directions, but I can take it from here." Then, we get lost or stuck and can't do it. Instead of asking for help - Holy Spirit living in me help - we want more instruction because we must not have gotten it right the first time. We want to do it ourselves, but like my son we are miserable in our striving. Miserable in our self- effort and vain attempts, yet whining at Him for not making it go our way even though we've said to Him in our hearts "I don't need no any help!"

I don't want to be that way, and I know you don't either. As I watch my son, God my Father tells me He has such compassion and patience for me when I just don't get it. Like me with my son, He so badly longs for me to say "I can't do it so please do it for me!" When I do, the Holy Spirit who doesn't even have to come over to me because He lives inside of me (fathom that!), leaps to take over with joy and ease that brings such freedom. I grow in my faith and see Him more clearly. In those times, I really "get" things like:
I am His. I am redeemed. It is for my good and His glory that I abide in Him.
He can do anything. In Him, I live, and move and have my being.
Joy comes through obedience to Him and letting the Holy Spirit live through me.

There's a lot more I could write about just what He showed me in this one circumstance, but no time or space to put it here, but.....

How good is our Father God?!