During a walk yesterday, my 3 year old son became interested in a big snow pile left by the snowplow. The snow mound ranged in height from one foot to 4 1/2 feet at its peak.
He began tapping at it with his boot like some men kick car tires. Then, he looked at me and said, "I want to be on the snowpile. Help me up, Mommy."
I looked at the snowpile and realized that, with effort, he would be able to climb it without my help if he chose another spot to begin the ascent. So I called upon one of the sayings my parents used on me: 'If you can't climb up it on your own, then you aren't ready to climb it.'
This is where some of you may be saying, "mean mommy, just give him a hand up - what's the big deal?" Well... read on.
Initially, my son was not happy with my statement either, then he walked along the mushy exterior of the mound, assessing with a mountain climber's focus the nooks and crannies.
Soon he was scaling the snowpile, pushing his little body upward, and when he reached the top, his smile was glorious. And he said, "I can see the whole world." With his 3 year old eyes, he was surveying a world below. "Mommy, I can see the lake... and the trees...and the sky!"
Clearly delighted with his position, he encouraged me to join him on his snowy Mt. Everest. And I did. For him, it was even better to have someone to share the experience with.
The lesson here has many layers, but I shall focus on two.
First layer: You and your opinions about the struggling person
We must use our intuition in the moment to discern whether a person truly needs our help. And in most scenarios, we must RESIST (now this is important):
Now for the second layer: You and your journey
We each of us are like children who want to climb mountains (be they mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual mountains) and we sometimes feel we cannot so we don't even try. The mountain looks too big.
Often, we feel discouraged and frustrated that others aren't helping us in the ways we feel they should. Sometimes, we are frustrated with God.
Do not underestimate yourself. Know that once you get past the emotional feelings, you can label the situation a "success" and that the Divine will open the doors of your mind, body, and spirit for the realization/opportunity to emerge in right timing and right order. The obstacles are gone! And the path emerges and you see "the whole world".
See you at the top!
He began tapping at it with his boot like some men kick car tires. Then, he looked at me and said, "I want to be on the snowpile. Help me up, Mommy."
I looked at the snowpile and realized that, with effort, he would be able to climb it without my help if he chose another spot to begin the ascent. So I called upon one of the sayings my parents used on me: 'If you can't climb up it on your own, then you aren't ready to climb it.'
This is where some of you may be saying, "mean mommy, just give him a hand up - what's the big deal?" Well... read on.
Initially, my son was not happy with my statement either, then he walked along the mushy exterior of the mound, assessing with a mountain climber's focus the nooks and crannies.
Soon he was scaling the snowpile, pushing his little body upward, and when he reached the top, his smile was glorious. And he said, "I can see the whole world." With his 3 year old eyes, he was surveying a world below. "Mommy, I can see the lake... and the trees...and the sky!"
Clearly delighted with his position, he encouraged me to join him on his snowy Mt. Everest. And I did. For him, it was even better to have someone to share the experience with.
The lesson here has many layers, but I shall focus on two.
First layer: You and your opinions about the struggling person
We must use our intuition in the moment to discern whether a person truly needs our help. And in most scenarios, we must RESIST (now this is important):
- extensively problem solving for them
- taking offense that they don't follow the breadcrumbs you laid out for them
- or making dramatic "noises" about their choices.
Now for the second layer: You and your journey
Often, we feel discouraged and frustrated that others aren't helping us in the ways we feel they should. Sometimes, we are frustrated with God.
Do not underestimate yourself. Know that once you get past the emotional feelings, you can label the situation a "success" and that the Divine will open the doors of your mind, body, and spirit for the realization/opportunity to emerge in right timing and right order. The obstacles are gone! And the path emerges and you see "the whole world".
See you at the top!
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