Category: Christian Allegory

Books In My Backpack

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

“Mommy, you be the librarian,” my 2 year old urged as she handed me a book.

I paused in the midst of clearing the breakfast table to “check-in” the book and put it away.

A few minutes later, she returned to the kitchen with a basket brimming with picture books from the shelf.

I set up a cardboard box librarian desk and we found a pretend library card.

“Beep,” I said as I scanned the library card.

“Beep,” I scanned the first book.

“Beep, beep, beep…”

I handed her the pile of 13 books. “Here you are. Have a nice day.”

I turned my attention back to clearing the table while she loaded the books to go home.

A few moments later, frustrated grunts drew my attention back to my daughter.

She was trying to put her backpack on. It looked very heavy.

“Do you need some help?” I asked.

“Yes! I can’t get it on.”

I helped her slide the second strap onto her shoulder.

“There. That’s a very heavy backpack. Did you put the books in it?”

Obviously she had.

She groaned. “Owe. My shoulders.”

“You might want to take some of the books out.”

“No. Owe. My shoulders.”

She slung the backpack to the floor.

I stooped, reaching for the zipper. “Here. Let me help.”

I removed all but 5 of the books.

“It’s still pretty heavy, but I think you can carry it now.”

“No! I want all the books.”

I handed her the backpack. “Let’s leave out the heavy ones. Otherwise it’s too heavy.”

“No.” She knelt determinedly beside the backpack and squeezed all the books back in.

She rose, struggling to put it back on.

“It’s too heavy!”

I sighed. “There is nothing I can do to help if you don’t take some books out.”

That got me thinking…

Do I have a mental backpack I have loaded up and am trying to lug around?

Is God looking at me saying, “If you would just let Me help, I would lighten your load”?

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said,

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (NIV)

How wonderful it is that Jesus offers me rest from being weary and burdened!

Am I experiencing that rest? Or is my stubborn self-reliance getting in the way of my receiving that rest?

My daughter’s behaviour exemplifies this so clearly.

She was determined to stuff her backpack full of books and then carry it. The backpack was far heavier than she could reasonably carry.

I wanted to help her. I wanted to lighten her load. In fact, I did step in to take some of the weight out of the backpack.

Yet what did she do? She immediately put those books right back into the backpack. She wanted to carry the full load.

Before I shake my head at my little one’s stubborn relentlessness, I need to pause and look at my own life.

Am I experiencing the rest Jesus is offering me? Or have I taken on far more than I was meant to carry?

Is Jesus pleading with me to hand over my burden to Him?

In 1 Peter 5:7 I am urged to be “casting all [my] cares on Him, because He cares about [me].” (CSB)

That is an on-going action, not “I did it once in the past and now I’m set.”

I must continue casting my cares on Jesus daily… hourly.

Am I living this out as I ought? No. I have a long ways to grow in this area.

That said, will you join me today in asking God if there is any burden you are carrying that He wants to help you to put down?

Then get up, go about your day, and wait to see what He will say to you as you continue to seek Him through the Bible, prayer, and fellowship with other Christians.

I will do the same.

Drip Drip Drip

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

“Would you like some juice?” I asked.

“Yes,” my toddler replied from where she lay sick with a fever on the couch.

I fetched the little cup with a built-in straw from the fridge. It had a valve in the straw enabling me to tip it upside down without spilling. Surely it would be okay in the living room.

I set it beside my toddler, then scooped up my baby from where he stood leaning against the couch.

“I have to put your brother down for his nap. I’ll be back in a minute or two.”

My toddler took a sip of juice. “Okay.”

In the bedroom, I proceeded with my baby’s bedtime routine: drink water, put on sleep sack, read story, bounce while singing the “Prayer For My Child” song, then into his crib.

That done, I returned to the living room.

That was when I saw it. Beside my toddler, who was still on the couch where I had left her, was the straw cup. The cup rested on its side.

As I approached, one drip escaped.

Remaining calm, I quickly scooped up the cup.

Apparently, more than one drip had escaped.

There, on the couch, was a wet spot as large as the palm of my hand. I had only been gone a few short minutes.

Fetching a clean cloth, I pressed the drenched spot to absorb as much liquid out of it as possible, but it was a lost cause.

Giving up, I sighed. At least it was just watered-down apple juice on a brown couch.

A short while later, when I had a chance to lie down for a few minutes because I was sick with the same bug, it occurred to me that my actions are like that cup.

I thought the straw cup was a safe one to use in the living room because it didn’t spill, even when turned upside down. However, given enough time, one drip escapes. Then another drip escapes.

Before long, those slow but steady drips create a sizable spill.

My actions are like that. I may think they are inconsequential or “safe”, but, if I continue in them, they create a notable impact.

One small action after another, after another, after another… That’s how big impacts are made, whether for good or for evil.

Next time I am about to do something I believe is unimpactful, I would be wise to pause and consider the outcome. Will it lead to what is helpful or what is harmful?

In Galatians 6:7-8, I read:

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (NIV)

The following verse holds valuable encouragement.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 NIV

Lord, please help me be intentional to do what will lead to good for me and for those around me.

Licking Floor Vents

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

I set my baby on the kitchen floor and opened the fridge to get the leftover containers out for lunch.

“He’s getting so good at belly crawling,” I commented to my 2-year-old. “Pretty soon he’ll be up on his hands and knees doing proper crawling.”

I fetched a serving spoon and began putting food on our plates.

I turned to my 2-year-old. “Do you want your food warm or cold?”

She glanced at the table from where she was on the floor, busy building with magnetic blocks. “Cold.”

I glanced at my baby who had lost interest in the blue car he had been playing with and was now making his way across the kitchen floor.

I put my plate of food in the microwave and turned it on.

I filled our water glasses, then looked over at my baby again. He was studying the wall. Perhaps he liked the texture of the paint?

Hearing the microwave beep, I turned to retrieve my food.

When I glanced back at him, he was just reaching the furnace vent in the floor.

“Careful,” I warned him, “that could have sharp parts.”

Of course, he didn’t understand me. He continued touching the vent.

I set my hot food on the table and headed in his direction.

Then, to my disgust, I saw him put his head down on the floor vent and lick the metal grate.

“No, no,” I said, scooping him up. “We don’t lick floor vents.”

As I carried him towards the table, I spotted movement out of the corner of my eye.

My 2-year-old had left her blocks and was crawling. She was making a beeline for the very vent I’d just pulled my baby away from.

With a giggle, she licked the floor vent.

This incident is one of the more memorable times my 2-year-old copied my baby. She’d never thought to lick a floor vent before, but here she was doing it because her baby brother decided to give it a try.

There have been many other times my 2-year-old has desired to mimic our baby. She has wanted to be carried more. She has reverted to requesting to be spoon-fed. If I give my baby a biting toy, she wants one too.

In truth, such desires to be more “baby-like” are common in toddlers who have a new baby in the house. Indeed, even in the area of potty training, many fully trained toddlers have gone back to diapers when the new baby arrives.

Why share this story? Because I am similar to my daughter. Whether I realize it or not, I mimic those around me.

This is not necessarily a bad thing, unless I mimic those who set foolish or harmful examples.

In my walk with God, I am to be growing towards maturity (Heb. 5:11-14, James 1:4).

Likewise, my toddler is supposed to be growing in ability and intelligence.

When she mimics her baby brother, she is going backwards in her development. She is becoming more baby-like.

So who am I mimicking?

Are they influencing me towards maturity in Jesus, or away from it?

It’s worth taking time to consider the influence of my family, friends, and church leaders.

I like how it is put in Hebrews 13:7 – “Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.” (CSB)

On top of that, which authors/influencers/musicians am I listening to? What influence do they have on me?

If, when I look around, it seems no one is influencing me towards a deeper relationship with Jesus, it may be time to make some changes.

One of those changes could simply be reading a biography of a Christian who had a deep personal relationship with Jesus.

My favourites include:

  • Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot
  • Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret by  Dr. Howard Taylor
  • Seeking Allah Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi

I was recently reminded of the encouragement podcasts can give when I listened to “Women Worth Knowing” by Cheryl Broderson and Robin Jones Gunn, “Enduring Words” by David Guzik, and “Laugh Again” by Phil Callaway.

Ultimately it is Jesus whose example I am to follow.

All these other examples ought to point me towards Him. As Paul put it: “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1 CSB)

Being intentional to keep times of prayer and Bible reading in my daily life is critical for this.

As I go forward, may I be aware of how I am being influenced. May I be intentional to seek out those who would influence me towards Jesus. May I grow towards maturity in my walk with Jesus.

Not The Garbage!

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

I placed the loaf of bread in the fridge and returned to the table to clear the rest of the breakfast items. Happy chatter reached my ears from where my older child played in the other room.

I glanced at my baby as he crawled around the kitchen floor exploring the toys left out for that very purpose.

Opening the dishwasher, I quickly put the dishes and cutlery in.

My baby made a beeline for the dishwasher.

“You’re getting faster,” I said, “but I’m all done with the dishwasher already.”

He fussed when I closed it before he could climb in.

Crouching beside him, I drove a car back and forth. “Vroom… Vroom…”

It only took a moment before he was reaching for the car.

“Yes, you can have the car. I need to finish clearing the table.” Fetching the dishcloth, I returned to the table and began wiping it.

I heard a thump.

Looking over, I observed my baby standing against the under-the-sink cupboard, pulling at its handle.

Pulling the door open, he peeked inside. Intrigued, he pulled it open further then dropped to his hands and knees to investigate.

I stepped around the table to wipe the far side.

He reached for the dustpan and broom I kept in the cupboard.

I spoke lightly, “You can look at that, just don’t suck on it please.”

His interest didn’t last long. Setting the dustpan aside, he looked up at the garbage can. He reached for the fresh bag my husband had put in the can.

“No, that’s not for you,” I spoke from the opposite side of the table.

My baby couldn’t quite reach the bag from where he sat. He shifted closer and reached again.

Disregarding the dishcloth, I hurried to his side.

“No,” I stated firmly, pulling his hand away from the garbage.

He looked at me, then reached for the bag again.

“No,” I said again.

He reached for it another time.

“No. That’s the garbage. That’s not for you. Here, you can hold the dustpan.” I tapped the dustpan loudly.

Yet again he reached for the garbage.

This time, I pulled him away from the garbage and closed the cupboard. “No. The garbage is not for you. Find something else to play with.”

He fussed.

I rolled a ball towards him, but he barely noticed. He was too busy heading back for the cupboard and pulling himself up against it.

I held the cupboard shut as he tugged on the handles.

His fussing turned to crying.

I scooped him up.

“Silly boy. Garbage is not good for you. Come, let’s find something better for you.” I carried him to the living room in search of a more engaging toy.

It was only later, after more run-ins of a similar nature, that I noticed the allegory hidden in these moments.

I love my son. I want what is best for him. When he wants to play with garbage, I say “no.”

The same is true of God. Our Heavenly Father is a loving God. He loves us so much that when we want to play with garbage, He says “no.”

As the parent of a very busy baby, I am considering putting locks on that cupboard to prevent him from opening it.

God, however, gives us the freedom to choose to comply with His “no.”

In my day-to-day life, what does this mean?

First off, in His Word, God has given me many laws and guidelines to live by. I’m sure you can name several of them.

“Do not murder.

Do not commit adultery.

Do not steal.” (Deuteronomy 5:17-19 CSB)

I could go on.

Why does God give me these laws? Because He knows they will keep me away from garbage.

Garbage is not good for me.

Beyond that, God sometimes replies to my prayer requests regarding specific situations or desires with “no.”

So often it is hard to understand why He says no when it is something I long for.

In the story I shared, my baby had absolutely no comprehension that the garbage can was not good for him. He got frustrated when I pulled him away from it. He cried.

Sometimes I must simply trust that God sees the bigger picture. He knows what the future holds. He knows what is best.

Yet it can be so hard to trust when the “no” makes no sense to me. I may feel frustrated, disappointed, and discouraged. I may cry. I need to take these feelings straight to God as the Psalmists so often did.

As I take these emotions to God, He will help me trust Him when He says:

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

and your ways are not My ways.’

This is the Lord’s declaration.

‘For as heaven is higher than earth,

so My ways are higher than your ways,

and My thoughts than your thoughts.'” (Isaiah 55:8-9 CSB)

Today, may I abide by the rules and guidelines God has laid out in His Word. Beyond that, when God says, “no,” may I trust that He knows what is best, even when I don’t understand.

Receipt Pile

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

I took a deep breath. I had a few minutes to myself while my husband took our kids on a walk.

It was time to tackle one of those old boxes taking up space. They had been sitting there far too long.

I squared my shoulders. I didn’t feel like doing it, but this was my opportunity.

Lifting the lid off a box, I peered inside. A heaping pile of receipts caught my eye.

I lifted a lengthy receipt from a grocery store, not worth keeping for more than a month or two (in case of recalls). I searched for the date. It was from two years ago. Certainly not needed now.

Setting the receipt on the floor beside me, I started a “To Be Recycled” pile.

I glanced at the next receipt. It was from a similar time period. Into the recycling pile it went.

Pausing, I studied the receipt pile. I could probably toss them all without a second glance.

“But there might be something valuable mixed in.”

With the thought that maybe there was a receipt from some big item with a warranty still valid, I began shifting through the receipts one by one.

As the pile on the floor grew, I found myself becoming reflective.

What an incredible amount of stuff we bought in the past couple of years! Groceries, household items, kids clothes…

The majority of the receipts were from the grocery store – the food we bought long since consumed.

I lifted a receipt to see which store it was from – Staples. I glanced at the item purchased. Immediately I recalled buying that computer mouse.

A pink paper caught my eye. It was the alterations receipt from my bridesmaid dress for my sister’s wedding.

At the bottom of the pile was a separate box of receipts from my own wedding: ribbon, flowers, thank you cards, and my husband’s wedding band.

So many memories.

Many of the items I was thankful to have decided to buy. Other items were long since forgotten.

I found myself wondering, “What about in my life?”

If I saw all the receipts of how I spent my time and energy this past year, would I be pleased with what I saw?

Would God be pleased?

Before I go further, it is at this point that, as someone who has dealt with chronic fatigue, I often must stop to remind myself of 2 Corinthians 8:11-13.

“For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.” (CSB)

I am only responsible for how I use what I do have, whether that be the energy, time, or resources God has given me, not for what I don’t have.

If today all I can do is rest in bed, God understands.

That aside, how did I use my life this past year? If I had a receipt for every action and thought, what would each say?

Was I pursuing Jesus and active in the work He has given me to do (whether parenting, or doing my best at my job, or whatever that may be).

Did I waste my time, energy and resources on meaningless things that have now been long since forgotten?

Ultimately it is my heart He is after.

My thoughts and actions are merely an outpouring of where my heart is at.

Do I love God? Am I trusting Him? Am I praising Him? Am I resting in the fact that He is in control? Am I thanking Him?

Where my heart is at will be evident in the receipts of my life.

One day, I will need to give an account to God for each of those thoughts and actions. (Romans 14:12)

As I look forward to the new year, may my heart seek after God, so that, with His help, I may not be ashamed of the receipts. May the receipts of my life in this coming year be pleasing in God’s sight.