He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. John 3:30
Whenever I’ve heard this Bible verse, I’ve always taken it as…I need to think about myself and my needs less…I need to focus more on Jesus…notice all the I’s?
I’ve always had this backwards, I think. Well, short-sighted, at least. I’ve always applied it internally…
But two things have occurred recently that have re-framed this verse for me.
The first thing that happened was the kind of thing I often pray for:
Neon flashing signs. You know, GLARINGLY OBVIOUS.
Seriously, the Lord has heard me several times when I pleaded with Him, “Please give me a neon flashing sign!”
I’m not good with subtle. I need straightforward, unmistakable.
So when it’s plainly stated, and even references this exact verse, I get it.
Are you familiar with the Joey + Rory, country singers? I first heard about them as Joey was facing cancer. Their faith is inspiring, and then I read this about her love for their daughter, Indy:
When we first got to Indiana in late October, Joey was Indy’s whole world. Everyone else was… well, just everyone else. Including me. She loved her mama so much and all she wanted was to be with her, beside her or in-sight of her. But in early November, when Joey started to realize that there was a good chance that she might not beat her battle with cancer, she made a decision…”he must become greater and I must become less.”
And she started going against everything in her being that told her “time was short” so hold her baby even tighter… and longer… and more… and instead – she handed the baby to me, and sat alone in a bed and watched and listened as my relationship with Indy grew…and hers lessened.
[Read the rest of that article, here….]
Wow. That’s an amazing love.
Definitely opened my eyes to a deeper meaning for this verse.
OK, so I said two things…here’s the second…like lots of families, our family has volunteered at a local outreach ministry in our town for a couple of years. Derek and I led the little kids group–four and five year olds.
I use the word, “led,” loosely…most weeks it was more like chased/wrangled/herded. We were pretty terrible at it. 😀
Anyway, Haley helped us the second year and enjoyed it tremendously.
She wanted to take on more leadership, but every time she did, the kids still looked to me for help or permission to do anything; they saw me as the teacher even though I would tell them to “listen to Miss Haley”…and it was easy to see that I needed to back off from the position.
She was doing great but didn’t need me to cause a shadow, so to speak.
Haley now teaches the class, with various assistants (not us!).
And guess what?
She’s thriving.
She told me a couple of weeks ago that she’s never studied her Bible as much as she does when she’s preparing a lesson. {happy dance}
She’s even teaching Sunday school and will teach children in another country this summer.
Haley’s 16.
I don’t mean she’s perfect. And Lord knows we have a long way to go as parents. Just ask our kids. 🙂
What I do mean is…
Our children can do things that are challenging.
I taught several students last semester who are doing some really unique things:
- competing in Olympic trials
- traveling in Africa and Europe this summer on money she earned herself
- working at an industry trade show in a sales position alongside adults
These 10th grade “kids” are doing these things on their own initiative, because they have a passion for it.
They all seem to have great support systems, but they are initiating and pursuing these things, not simply going along with what’s been planned for them.
Sometimes the best thing for our kids is to have less of us so there can be more of Him.
Know when to back off, Mom. Thank God for my neon flashing sign. Because I’m the queen of missing-what’s-right-in-front-of-me.
Here’s your sign. 😀
This post happily shared with Grace & Truth and Creative K Kids.
