"I Can Do It Myself, Gammie!"

Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

My husband, Danny, and I have our granddaughter, Virginia Rose, over to spend a recent Friday night with us.  We wanted to have her in the worst way over the Christmas holidays, but because everyone in her household was sick, we couldn't risk it.  So it's been a while since we've spent any one-on-one time with our little angel, and we are looking forward to every minute together.

The biggest change I observe in Virginia is her self-assured demeanor.  It's not that she hasn't displayed confidence in the past; she is always willing to try new things, but now she firmly verbalizes her self-reliance.

"I can do it myself, Gammie."

I hear that phrase time and time again, whether it's breaking eggs into the cookie mixture, stirring in the M&Ms, placing teaspoons of dough on the baking sheets, lugging a board game upstairs from its storage space in the downstairs closet, readying the game for a round of fun, or changing into pajamas, the mantra repeats.

"I can do it myself, Gammie."

But where Virginia's declared confidence truly shines is when she insists she can clean up after having her way with flour play on the kitchen counter.  This Gammie is skeptical (and yes, I do help some), but I'm amazed at how much she is able to accomplish without a smidgen of help from me.

Not bad for a five-year-old!

While I understand how important it is for children to develop their abilities and skills, the "do-it-myself" mentality can become an obstacle, a stumbling block, to their spiritual and emotional growth down the road of life.  Children must also learn that asking for help when the task before them is daunting is not a sign of weakness or shame.  It is life-giving.

Life changing.

Because the moment we realize we can't do it all on our own is the moment we learn to lean, expectantly and unabashedly, upon the Lord.  We ask for His help.

And He is there to give it.

Faithfully and unfailingly.

And with Jesus' strength infusing our hearts and souls, we can overcome all the hindrances, set backs and shortfalls we encounter along our earthly journey.

We can truly, and confidently, do all things.

~

Are you telling God you can "do it yourself," or do you trust in Him to give you the strength you need for the task at hand?

Prayer:  Father, we understand that it is important for children to take pride in their accomplishments and capabilities.  But pride not tempered by humility is a recipe for disaster.  Help us to teach and guide our children and grandchildren to always thank You for all the good gifts and talents they have been given and to acknowledge that all these are blessings from You to them.  It is in Jesus' name, we pray.  Amen.