Back-to-back

I can nag.  A lot.  It does not bode well for Mom, (92 years of age), whose persevering spirit borders on pure streaks of stubbornness.  So I’ve been praying.  And I have asked my friend to pray with me: for small steps of obedience in conquering this nagging habit.

Today, as I walked out the door to bring my Mom a snack, I prayed: “Lord, I don’t want to cajole, argue or plead.  Please give me a better way.”  You see, Mom would say that she didn’t need a break; that she would come in when she was ready; that I was far too worried, (or bossy)!

I sat down on the ground with her, back-to-back; legs stretched out.  I could hear the sweet munching on fresh strawberries and the thirst-quenching gurgle of cold water.  I could feel the contented sigh of rest without regret and the joy of a shared moment; and I was grateful for this seemingly small victory.

And it got better.  God, in His providence, has me teaching Junior Church tomorrow, and so I settled in to prepare.  The story of Naaman, (2 Kings 5), sealed it for me.  He had refused to go and wash in the Jordan River seven times; the prophet Elisha’s answer to Naaman’s quest for a cure for his leprosy.  You see, a “little servant girl” whom they had captured from the land of Israel, cared enough about her master that she suggested he go and see the man of God- Elisha.   She was not afraid to be obedient to her Lord, the God of Israel, in speaking of His great powers, and she cared deeply for this man; even though she had been captured.  Such a seemingly little thing she did.

But now, upon hearing Elisha’s instructions, Naaman answers in a rage: “Behold, I thought, he will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God and wave his hand over the place, and cure the leper,” (verse11).  Now, we meet more of Naaman’s servants, who reply: “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?”, (v. 13).  How kind his servants were!  How simple their response!  If you read the entire chapter, you will see that Naaman concedes and is healed.  Not only so, he becomes a believer in the one true God. 

There is nothing small in one simple step of obedience.  Indeed, there is glory to God.   As for me, I didn’t just side-step my usual pestering, I knew victory.

Strawberries never tasted sweeter.