Lessons from Draes

This week in his sermon, Dusty gave some great insight into our second son. "If it's closed, Draes thinks it needs to be opened." It was so true and simply put, but to me it is so profound. It applies to so much of Drae's nature.

He is my "revealer."

Cookies, purses, doors, markers - all missing caps, lids, covers, left open...

Any injustice I might have missed is quickly brought to my attention by my number 2.

Even his personality - it's not always polite or comfortable, but you never have to wonder about Drae's emotional state. He is an open book - the good the bad and the ugly.

We do our best to teach and channel that, but I pray he never loses his ability to live real.

Draes will try about anything, unless he won't. There is simply no grey! It makes me laugh. He will jump with both feet from heights that twist my stomach. He will climb anything without thinking twice, but he won't put one foot in a swimming pool.

He knows when to be brave. He knows when to be vulnerable.

It's common for him to ask me to help him with the simplest tasks - things he can fully do on his own. At first it baffled me, and then I realized, "He just wants me to be involved."

"Mommy, please take a my han?" he will query as he descends the stairs.

"Mommy, please kiss a my owwie?" though we both know there is no instant healing.

And then today, "Mommy please help a my fingews?" he asked while hanging from the kitchen counter, knees bent, completely able to stand on his own.

It struck me. He wants reassurance. He wants me to engage him and he is unashamed to ask.

I need, I WANT to be like that in my relationship with Christ. Yes, there is a lot I can probably do on my own, but what does that prove? That I can live apart from Him? Is that something I want? Is it something I want to prove? What greater things can I accomplish if I simply have the unmitigated vulnerability to ask Him to be in every part of my life, no matter how small, no matter how able I am?

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that the Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6