My friend Cyndi shared this quote from Louie Giglio on Facebook.
Every day we hold on to something with a clenched fist is a day we miss the possibility of God putting something amazing in our hands. When you let go, you don’t lose out.
I’ve tried to control everything from my marriage, my children, to each speck of dirt in my home. Desperate to keep chaos from erupting, I ran over everyone in the process. I put pressure on myself thinking that if I was the perfect parent, my children would automatically make good choices and follow Christ.
But I soon realized everything I was trying to hold on to was seeping between my fingers. I recognized the tight fist as the illusion that it was.
Read an excerpt from a post I wrote several years ago…
I can provide for my kids all the “right” items.
I can involve them in the “right” activities.
I can be the “perfect” parent.
I can expose them to all the “right” learning.
But in the end, each one of our children have to make the choice whether to obey and love the God who created them or turn away from His invitation.
As a mom this concept twists my heart.
We all know kids who grew up in loving, solid Christian homes who have gone astray. And we know kids who grew up in non-Christian, abusive homes who are sold out for Jesus. In my earthly mind…it doesn’t make sense. What I want is a formula. If I do x, y, and z then my kids will love God with all their hearts, souls, and minds. I want to know if I do what is needed I can control the outcome.
And, I bet you do too.
I always knew I was a control freak but I didn’t realized the extent until I had children.
One day I found an image on Pinterest of a person standing along the ocean. In the clouds was the title “Let Go” but when you looked closer it became apparent that a faint “d” has been added to the end so it stated “Let God.”
See when we let go, we are letting God. When I stop trying to be the perfect parent and instead focus on bringing glory to God, I am letting God take the reigns.
As I stared at the image the Holy Spirit said, “Heidi, let go of your children. They aren’t yours in the first place. I love them more than even you can imagine. I’ve got this.“
It is when we are laying in a heap on the floor with nothing left but a clenched fist, we cry out to God.
Yes, there will be tears as He gently lifts each finger back from what we are trying to clinch, but the peace and relief that occurs when the hands are outstretched is amazing.
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