Lessons from Ella

Ella has been in the process of potty training for a few months now. She has number one down, no problem with that, but number two...that is a different story altogether. She knows when she has to go, but refuses to go in the potty. But, this is not a post about potty training. It is however a post about independence and the struggles that go along with that personality trait.

As you may have guessed, Ella Katharine, as she's often called; is prone to strong determination and independence. "I do it myself." A favorite saying of hers right now. Another one I'm not so fond of, "Go away, Mommy." Anyway, she decided one day that she would put her panties on by herself. Great! I was there cheering her on and forcing myself to not help her get the elastic straightened out. "Look at meeee, Mommy. I dooing it, I dooing it. " And she did it, she finally got them on by herself, but not without much struggle and frustration. She decided to do it again and again and again. She sat in the middle of the kitchen floor taking her panties off and putting them back on again....with lots of strain and struggle, but she did not ask for help and she was not open to my suggestion of, "Say, help please, Mommy if you want me to help."

While I sat there watching her struggle and fight with those panties, I could hear God saying, "Stacey, that's exactly how you've been with me lately. You are straining and striving and struggling with areas in your life that I am waiting to help you with, but you have to ask me for help too. I am not going to reach down and fix it because I am right here waiting for you to surrender just like you are waiting and watching over Ella. My desire is to guide you and help you in all things. So stop the struggle and let me help you put your panties on."

Isn't it funny how God can use your children to cut to the heart of your own issues. I felt like I was the one who received a spanking that day, but did I ever need it!

Ella finally stopped pantie practice and was on to something else before I knew it, but I am so grateful God used that moment to correct me.