Tip of My Iceberg

Almost three years old, Kolly has a strong sense of autonomy. She observes older kids and adults doing things that catch her fancy, and she becomes bound and determined to do the same. Her mom got her a pair of sunglasses. Just like Mom’s. No amount of explaining or trying to turn them around for her would change how she chose to wear them. She felt she knew better than anyone else how to put them on.

Kolly, her mom, her little sister, and I went on an adventure to IKEA, a store known globally for having anything a person could need for outfitting any space. We were on a mission to find bedding for my daughter’s bedroom. To get to that part of the store, which was near the very end of the property, we wandered through room after room of everything under the sun. Kolly had to sit on every swivel chair, lie down in every bed, and pretend to type at every fake computer.

She’s watched often as her parents, aunts, and uncles type on their computers. She knows the rhythms of the hand movements, so she sat confidently at desk after desk, pecking away at a phony keyboard, explaining that she was “at work”.

Almost, but not quite.

It didn’t matter that the computers didn’t work. She kept checking the screen to see if she was making a difference. Although nothing was happening, she was content to pretend to act like the grownup she longed to be. She believed she knew what she was doing.

That was enough for her.

I often find myself acting with bravado, kidding myself when I feel inadequate or unprepared. I’ve been known to bluster my way through situations, hoping I can fool enough people to think I am adequate for the task at hand. Or I act like I know better than others how things should be done, and I become impatient with ideas and methods I don’t think will work.

Naaman was the commander of the King of Aram’s army. He was well-respected by his king and the people for his great service. His only problem was that he suffered from leprosy. It didn’t keep him from serving, but it kept people from being close to him.

When the Arameans invaded Israel, they captured many of its people, including a little girl who served Naaman’s wife. This little girl told her mistress she wished Naaman would go to the prophet of Israel to be healed of his leprosy. Naaman went to the home of Elisha, the prophet, but rather than come to meet him, Elisha sent a messenger to tell Naaman to bathe in the Jordan River seven times.

“But Naaman became angry and stalked away. ‘I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!’ he said. ‘I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the LORD his God and heal me.’…So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.” 2 Kings 5:11-12.

His men talked Naaman into doing what the prophet told him to do, and when he finally conceded, he found himself fully healed. Naaman went to Elisha and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.”2 Kings 5:15.

Kolly wouldn’t accept help to see that she wasn’t wearing her sunglasses correctly or typing at a fake computer–an expected attitude of a young child. Naaman, however, was shown his attitude was one of arrogance and pride. He couldn’t be helped until he allowed himself to follow the instructions from God.

Who will you listen to?