Making Adjustments

We are now a one-car family. Most of the time, this isn’t a problem. But sometimes we aren’t going in the same direction at the same time, and one or both of us has to adjust our schedule. Dave gets up very early to take me to the van pool stop. If he is working (delivering pizzas) I have to find another way home. These aren’t major adjustments – but something we DO have to think about now, whereas before, I would (and did) just get in the car and go.

The good news about all of this is that we don’t have one car payment, and the car insurance is nearly half what it used to be. We get to spend more time together – time when we can and do talk – time to practice music for both the choir we are singing in at church and the community chorus we sing in. The only down side is that I feel much less independent. I have to plan my life around when and if the car is available. And I have to depend on other people a whole lot more.

My biggest problem is that I LIKE to be independent. I don’t mind helping other people at all – but it’s hard for me to ask for help from others. That spills over into my spiritual life, and my food life, too. A favorite passage comes from Proverbs:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) And even though I believe this passage with all my heart – I must admit that I have a very difficult time putting it into practice. Much like a two year old who insists on dressing herself – I want to do it! I have even been known to throw a temper tantrum (or two – or several) when someone doesn’t let me do it.

Fortunately, God is patient with me. He knows that when I say, “ME DO IT!” that I might fail. But He lets me try anyway. And those times that I do fail, He picks me up, and holds me in His arms, then helps me clean up the mess. Going through this time when I have to depend on other people is a time for me to grow – to really and truly learn to lean on others. And by learning to do that, I will ultimately be learning to lean on HIM.