The other day, after her nap, I asked Ruthie to go put her dress back on as she had slept in just her leggings. At the mere suggestion that she do this by herself, she melted into a puddle on the floor and cried,
“But I need you to help me!”
It is my constant battle to try and get her to do things on her own, so I simply stated,
“You know how to put your dress on.”
“But I can’t tie the ribbon!” she wailed.
This particular dress had a ribbon that tied in the back.
“I will help you with the ribbon,” I assured her. “Now please go put your dress on.” I went about the business of getting snack ready and Ruthie dragged herself into her bedroom. For the next ten minutes, she wailed and cried and created as much drama as she could possibly muster. I could see through her partially opened door that she had her dress on, so I continued to do my own thing, allowing her time to work it out. Eventually, she emerged complete with tears and snot dripping down her face, the ends of the two ribbons in her sweaty little hands.
“I can’t tie the ribbon,” she wailed again.
“Oh, honey,” I said as I grabbed a tissue and helped her blow her nose, “I never asked you to tie the ribbon. I told you I’d do that part.”
Fast forward a few days to me, wailing on the phone to my mom, overwhelmed by all that I needed to get done. And what started as feeling overwhelmed by my current circumstances, led into being overwhelmed by all that my life wasn’t, isn’t and never will be. It was the ultimate of pity parties. As I hung up the phone, tears on my face and snot dripping out of my nose, Ruthie slowly approached me, handed me a tissue and gave me a hug. Suddenly, I saw myself in my little girl’s shoes: standing there with ribbons in my hands, feeling overwhelmed by the requirements of life. As I blew my nose, I heard the Lord say,
“Oh, Tiffany. I never asked you to tie all these ribbons. I never asked you to maneuver this life alone. Come to me, and I will give you rest. Put on the “dress” of My love; you don’t have to tie the ribbon, I already did that part.”
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” ~Matthew 11:28-30
“I have come that you may have life, and that you may have it more abundantly.” ~John 10:10
