Tip of My Iceberg

My good friend, Gina, has just returned from years of living and ministering overseas. Her heart and humor reflect a wisdom beyond her years, as well as an ability to see the fun in life and poke fun at herself. I hope you enjoy her thoughts as much as I do!

“Ring! Ring!”

These words are often heard in our house, usually accompanied by giggles, sometimes with a little urgency. They are the distress call from our daughter, translating to, “Daddy – my big brother’s playing with me and he’s getting a little too rough and left to my own devices I’ll probably retaliate in a way that I’ll regret, or at least he will. Save me!” You can see how we needed a code word to avoid her having to scream all that.

It started as a simple conflict resolution skill – if it’s getting past “this is fun” into “he’s sitting on my head and it’s uncomfortable,” she calls out, “Ring! Ring!” and she knows that daddy will come to her rescue. Initially, her “Ring! Ring” cries were a little desperate, uncertain. She’s used to having to stand her own ground with her brother when they wrestle. After awhile, she’s realized that daddy really will come readily when she calls. Not only will he come, but he’ll scoop her up and whisk her away, and what was distressing will transform to joy. He’s her knight in shining armor. I think she secretly hopes for a chance to call now. She likes it when daddy comes.

Whenever I hear her “Ring! Ring” I am reminded of my heavenly Father. I have always been a fiercely independent, “thanks, but I’ve got this” kind of girl when it comes to life. I am often so convinced that I can handle life on my own that when it comes to the places where I can’t, I forget that my Father is so able and willing to respond to my “Ring! Ring!” I’m not talking about the kind of faith that uses God as a last resort, or sees Him as only a lifeline when I’m in trouble. I want my “Ring! Ring!” to more and more change from the hesitant, questioning cries that mark young faith, to confident, joyful expectation that cries out in awareness that my God is never far away; a faith that does not trust in my own ways, my own strength, but immediately recognizes my own helplessness and His great power and love.

“The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you; He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Visit Gina’s blog, The View from Here.