Sometimes the Devil Uses Strollers...Wait. Is that appropriate?

Last Monday Axl became a gymnast. He's done t-ball, soccer, and tumbling, but the one thing he's always wanted to try was gymnastics. So, when his first class finally arrived we were so excited that we could have done cartwheels all the way there. That is if either one of us knew how to do cartwheels. When we walked in - late - all the good seats for spectating were taken so I took my position in an inconspicuous corner, sure I was standing, but I could see all the stations. Honestly, I had the best seat space in the house, that is, until daddy with the stroller and no apparent spectator etiquette showed up. So as you can imagine, stroller daddy came and stood right in front of me. I dashed and darted from side to side, but there was no shaking him. He mirrored my every move. He was good. So,while Axl was high flying and propelling his little body into a large pit of foam, I was playing defense, working for every sneak peek of his attempts. I might add that he was quite good, and you have to know that I teared up thinking "I'll remember this day - his first day - when he accepts his first Olympic gold medal." 


As my frustration increased, so did my exaggerated body movements which paled in comparison to my elevated sighs and huffs. The man didn't notice. I looked around. Surely someone else was catching the injustice that was being done here. If I could just make eye contact with someone then I could give them the look. You know the one that says, "Can you believe the nerve of this person?" I always respond, "I'm with ya sista" when I get the look. Where was my person? Who was with me on this? No one. No one else noticed, because they were all sitting quietly in their seats watching their gymnasts - they had arrived on time. At this point, he was stealing my joy and I had gone into the bad place. 


I left there realizing that stroller daddy was a lot like the devil. I know that sounds harsh, but I'm speaking figuratively here, well mostly. He will get in our way, mirror our moves, forcing us to play defense, unless we choose to go on the offense, which I could have very easily done by switching sides of the room. Instead, I chose to stay put, battling toe to toe with a person who had no regard for my well being. One significant difference between stroller daddy and the devil - admittedly there are many - is that the daddy didn't intend to do me harm or to steal my joy, that cannot be said for the devil. Scripture makes it clear that the devil not only means to do me harm, he seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. He is constantly looking for ways to get in my path, blocking my eyes from resting on the Father in the same way this oblivious man was blocking my eyes from Axl. 


I can huff, puff, mope and moan about all the ways the devil seeks to rob me of the peace and joy that I have in the Father or I can equip myself for battle, knowing that I don't have to face him alone. I struggle with this. I am easily agitated and my reactions often times don't reflect my Jesus. My continuing prayer is that Jesus will gently remind me that the devil delights in my playing defense alone. He loves using everyday inconsiderations to mess with me and as a result rob Jesus of the Glory that is rightfully His when I react with love and patience. 


It would just be easier if Jesus could keep all the rude people away from me, but since that's currently not His plan I'm taking more deep breathes, reflecting often on James 1:19-27 , and taking a book to gymnastics tonight.


With much love,


Tonya