"NO WAY"

 

"NO WAY!"

 

This story took me back several years when we visited our son and his family at his house.  It reminded me of myself.

 

Emma, our granddaughter, had just awakened from her nap.  Those of us closest to Emma all know what that means!

 

Emma is just the sweetest, most loving and adorable child that has ever walked upon the face of the earth.  Although, when she wakes up from a nap in the afternoon, I just know that somebody has sneaked into her bedroom while we had our backs turned.  Whoever did must have traded our precious, adorable little Emma for a very upset and frustrated little girl.

 

You can ask her a question and her answer is never “Yes.”  Her answer is not “Maybe.”  She doesn’t even say “No.”  You can ask it soft and sweet and the answer is the same. “No Way!”

 

On this particular day, Josh summoned us all to the table. He asked Emma if she wanted to sit on the bench to eat. “No Way!”

 

Do you want to sit by Mommy? “No Way!” Do you want to sit by Meemee? “No Way!”  Do you want milk? “No Way!”  Do you want some meat? “No Way!” Do you want some bread? “No Way!”  

 

As parents, we all know she will have to eat in order to survive, but at this point she isn’t thinking about surviving.  

 

Neither Josh nor Kristy shoves food down her throat, hits her or forces her to eat.  They know that in time Emma will wake up enough and decide to eat on her own.

Watching Emma go through this process reminded me of a time that the Lord wanted me to be in fellowship with him, to read and his teach his word, to play the piano, to be a Pastor’s wife and to live for him. I was much like little Emma.

 

When the Lord spoke to me about what he would like for me to do, I said, “No Way!”  See, I had been wounded and there was no way that I was going to allow myself to be wounded again by people who professed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

 

I felt if I stayed away from the Word of God, the House of God, and the People of God, that I would be safe. The Lord continued to ask me to serve him and I continued to say, “No Way!” He had to meet me not where I used to be, nor where I would be in five years but he had to meet me exactly where I was at that moment.

 

When Emma wakes up from her nap, she just wants her Mommy to hold her.  She doesn't want Kristy to hug her and set her down, neither does she want her to hold her for five minutes.  Emma needs to be held until she feels secure with everything and everyone.

 

After Emma has spent some time being held by her mother, she will gladly take your hand and go with you to the table and eat a meal.  She will not do so one minute before she feels secure.

One day I remember my Father saying, “Walk with me.”  I said, “No Way!”  I said, “I don’t think I’m ready.”  My Father said, “I’m not going to make you teach.  I’m not going to make you sing.  I’m not going to make you play the piano, or even be a helper. Just walk with me.”

 

As I heard the gentle wooing of my Father, I finally agreed that I would walk with him.  All he wanted to do was feed my soul.  As I opened the word of God, he gently led me to attend church.  I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone, just sit on the back row.

 

I attended church for about six months and only sat on the back row.  As I slowly began to wake up, I realized that I was doing more and more.  I was no longer pushing him away, saying, “No Way!”

It has been eight years now since that time.  The Lord has walked with me slowly, never pushing, never demanding – just walking with me.

 

Before I knew it, I found myself walking back into the ministry.  I began playing the piano and speaking to women about my deep pain and helping them to have a closer walk with my Father.

I would never just walk out of Emma’s life when she says, ”No Way!” because I know that Emma is such an adorable, loving bundle of joy.

 

This is what your Father sees in you.  He see’s you as pure, and clean and filled with his love.  He is longing for you to fully wake up, so that he can see you laugh, dance, and bless other people’s lives once again. 

 

He is willing to wait patiently until you are ready.  He will not push or demand, and most of all, he will not leave you.  He is waiting with tender eyes of love and open arms the moment you are ready for him.  He is waiting for you stand and say, whenever Satan whispers fear, doubt, and frustration into your ears,

“NO WAY!”