I made a promise to my kids this past week that I would take them to fly their kites. If you are a parent, you know there is 0% chance they will forget what you promised them. Morning came and sure enough they didn’t forget. I heard the pitter patter of small feet run into the kitchen. “Mommy, can we fly our kites today?!” I shifted in my chair and took a sip of coffee. “We can later,” I said, feeling a little unsure.
Now, I am all for spending quality time with my kids, but the truth was- it didn’t look that windy, rain was in the forecast, and Mommy was a little out of practice on kite flying.
But, I made a promise.
I told my kids it probably isn’t windy enough today, but we can try. When we got to the open field, I knew the weather wasn’t great. My son’s kite couldn’t fly at all. My daughters would fly for a little bit when a gust of wind came, but seconds later it would come crashing down.
The experience didn’t match up to what they had pictured.
In my son’s frustration he threw his kite on the ground and yelled, “This is the worst!” I tried to tell him it’s not windy enough-Let’s try coming back another day with Papa. But he was determined to fly his kite TODAY.
Finally, after a few more failed attempts, they gave in.
“We can try another day, Papa is better at this.” I reassured them.
Watching the kite take off with a gust of wind and then crash down reminded me of my own, whirlwind, healing process.
One day we think we are ready to move forward, but the minute we have courage to take the first step, a negative thought brings you crashing down.
The crashing usually looks like this:
You finally agree to go to that social event. You bought a new outfit, finally put on make-up, YOU ARE SOARING…until a certain:
Word was said
Topic brought up
Person at the door
Baby crying
A scene in a movie
A song being sung
And with 1 trigger you come crashing back down.
You think, “Will I ever be healed, how am I going to do this?”
When we should be thinking “I need God to HELP me do this.”
Truth is, there is no magical equation or set number of days of grieving that takes our pain away. Healing takes time and hard work. You can try to do it on your own & fail, or you can lean into your heavenly father. Don’t give up!
Try another day, papa is better at this.
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear, I will help you. Isaiah 41:13
I remember one day our counselor said, “You might have bad days, and get triggered, BUT if you build a good foundation, like scaffolding, you won’t crash all the way down, only a layer.”
Friend, it’s ok if you have a bad day. But if you keep crashing all the way down, maybe it’s time to bring your unsteady emotions to Jesus so he can start rebuilding your heart.
Start by looking at the promises of God. When we promise our kids something they NEVER forget, but God’s promises to us!? Maybe we need to start memorizing his promises in our hearts.
Newness Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the NEW has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Closeness “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
Good Plans For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13
Faithfulness He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
Strength I will strengthen you and help you. Isaiah 41:10
Rest Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
I know it is hard to move past the pain, But God’s love for you is greater. If you can stop magnifying your life by what happened to you, you will be able to zoom into what Jesus did FOR you. Keep drawing near to him so the next time you get triggered God will hold you up, keeping you from crashing down.
Papa is better at this.
