JANE AND THE BEANSTALK
I've found there are many times while taking care of little children when I'm called upon to put aside my "big people" pride and practice some "little people" humility. Recently, I had just such a humbling experience...
On an excursion to our local Childrens' Museum last month, Jane (now 3 1/2) decided she was up for the challenge of climbing the Giant Beanstalk. She'd been thinking about climbing it for a very long time, and finally she'd summoned up the courage to do it!!
The Beanstalk is a steeply sloping stairway with netting around it that winds its way up from the museum's ground floor to the second floor. With great excitement, Jane slid off her tennis shoes and began her climb to the top...
Somewhere about two-thirds of the way up, I realized something was definitely wrong... Jane was stuck!! Without her shoes she wasn't able to get the traction she needed to keep going up, and she was too afraid to crawl all the way back down.
...And so, there was nothing to do but to climb up the Beanstalk myself and rescue her!
Looking back on it now, I know I must have been quite a sight! ~ a 51 year old babysitter (not as thin or as agile as I used to be) holding my bulky purse and a pair of little girl's tennis shoes tight and making my way (with great difficulty!) up the Beanstalk. But, to be honest, I really didn't care about what I looked like or what other people might be thinking about me. All that mattered was calming a little girl's fears and encouraging Jane in her climb to the very top!
As I've thought back on this, I have to admit that I sometimes feel just like that little girl, perched precariously and in need of rescuing. And Jesus comes into my situation with me. He stays with me in my predicament. He brings with Him just exactly what I need, and He cares for me. He calms my fears and then He encourages me forward.
Thank you, Lord, for little children, who teach us so much about humility and so many profound lessons in life about being loved by You.
edited by Patti Moore ~ Nov. 14, 2007
On an excursion to our local Childrens' Museum last month, Jane (now 3 1/2) decided she was up for the challenge of climbing the Giant Beanstalk. She'd been thinking about climbing it for a very long time, and finally she'd summoned up the courage to do it!!
The Beanstalk is a steeply sloping stairway with netting around it that winds its way up from the museum's ground floor to the second floor. With great excitement, Jane slid off her tennis shoes and began her climb to the top...
Somewhere about two-thirds of the way up, I realized something was definitely wrong... Jane was stuck!! Without her shoes she wasn't able to get the traction she needed to keep going up, and she was too afraid to crawl all the way back down.
...And so, there was nothing to do but to climb up the Beanstalk myself and rescue her!
Looking back on it now, I know I must have been quite a sight! ~ a 51 year old babysitter (not as thin or as agile as I used to be) holding my bulky purse and a pair of little girl's tennis shoes tight and making my way (with great difficulty!) up the Beanstalk. But, to be honest, I really didn't care about what I looked like or what other people might be thinking about me. All that mattered was calming a little girl's fears and encouraging Jane in her climb to the very top!
As I've thought back on this, I have to admit that I sometimes feel just like that little girl, perched precariously and in need of rescuing. And Jesus comes into my situation with me. He stays with me in my predicament. He brings with Him just exactly what I need, and He cares for me. He calms my fears and then He encourages me forward.
Thank you, Lord, for little children, who teach us so much about humility and so many profound lessons in life about being loved by You.
edited by Patti Moore ~ Nov. 14, 2007
6 comments:
Patti - you are a treasure... you have blessed me with this illustration ...that the ONE who loves us perfectly has indeed climbed the 'beanstalk' of our daily problems- clinging to our tennis shoes (which we probably disobediently forgot to keep on) so that we may be continually rescued by His grace and His mercy. I don't know - maybe it isn't exactly the same picture, but I get that impression from your real-life story just the same :)
wonderful :)
joy,
katey-D
Yes, Katey, that is EXACTLY the picture! It amazes me that the Lord can take our simple, everyday situations and show us much deeper lessons about His love for us!! :)
Thanks for your encouragement to edit this post and speak more clearly about the meaning in this real-life parable!
LOVE & HUGS TO YOU, MY FRIEND!!! :)
Awww Patti, you are my hero. What a wonderful story and parable and I have this perfect picture in my head of you and Jane on the beanstalk, one needing courage, the other giving.
Bless you my sweet!
Patti, this is such a beautiful blog! Bravo! I'm going to post a link to it from my blog today, if I may. :):)
Reminds me of a similar situation many years ago, only I was 8+ months pregnant as I climbed to the rescue! Oh how we are humbled by our children. Oh how Christ was humbled for us!!
I love you,my sister!
I am so blessed to have such encouraging art friends... and my precious younger sister whom I love and admire!
Thank you for your sweet words, one & all!! :)
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