My son has a new thing going on around his neck. It is a car neck pillow. He asked me what it was when he found it and I told him it went around your neck. So, he put it there and there it has stayed. I’m not talking just when he’s sleeping, either. He was playing with his Legos today at the table and there was the pillow around his neck. He was simply walking around the house and it was walking with him around his neck. It was around him tonight as we ate dinner. As much as my son loves this new thing, though, he was willing to share it with me the other morning when I was not feeling well. Later when I got up he told me how glad he was that my neck was feeling better. I said, “Thanks, but it still hurts some.” He then replied, “So, why don’t you have my thing around your neck?” He just doesn’t quite get the fact that even though this pillow is great for sleeping it doesn’t mean it’s great for you all the time.
You see, as he’s walking around the house he is constantly trying to keep this thing around his neck. As he’s trying to get the lemonade out of the refrigerator he almost spills it because the pillow is falling off of his neck. The pillow almost fell as he was playing with his Legos and he dropped his Lego person to catch the pillow. This great new toy is now hindering his everyday routines and yet he still wants it around his neck. I asked him why he enjoys this pillow so much and as he shrugged his shoulders and smiled he simply said it was comfortable.
After observing this new phenomenon for a couple of days, I’ve had to ask myself, “What do I carry around my neck?” What is in my life that is good and comfortable and yet it is constantly pulling at me? My son was not able to play fully with his Legos because he continuously was fixing the pillow and putting it back in place.
So, what do I have in my life that has a great purpose, just like the pillow, but I continually use it at the wrong times and for the wrong reasons? There’s nothing wrong with the pillow itself, but my son can’t enjoy his other toys as completely with something surrounding him. He’s missed the point and purpose of the pillow.
Likewise, how many times have I missed the purpose of something God has given to me? When He gives me something to help me rest, relax, and to ease my muscles, why do I insist on dragging it everywhere with me? That very gift then strains my life. I get frustrated and question God as I feel overwhelmed. He just shakes His head like I do with my son. He knows I don’t get it…I’ve missed the point. I take a good thing given to me and wrap it around my neck. I hold on tightly to it and don’t want to let it go. Meanwhile, I limit myself to helping others and helping myself because I’m afraid to lose this good thing. Sadly, if I don’t let go of this good thing, I might miss the great thing God is trying to give to me.
What is that around your neck?
© 2012 Susan M. Sims
Image courtesy of John Kasawa at freedigitalphotos.net
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