The Facade of Control

Control.

Is it something we can ever have - really?

People want it - or the appearance of it.  Some will spend their lives striving for it...never truly achieving it. Others define themselves by the control they have or at least what they perceive it to be.

And then the rug is pulled out from under them...

I'm reminded of Luke 17:33 - Whoever tries to keep their life, will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.  That's the NIV translation.  

I also like The Message which says If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you'll lose it, but if you let that life go, you'll get life on God's terms.

Could this be the core of the temptation that Adam and Eve faced?  Is it possible to think that the temptation was really the facade of control?

Jeter and I were talking about this just last week.

Yesterday he took a jump shot while playing basketball at school and rolled his ankle when he hit the gym floor.  It hurt but he didn't go to the nurse.  His words "what would she do Mom?  Give me some ice?"

Yes...and tell you to elevate it and maybe give you some ibuprofen and call your mom...

He went through the last half of the school day with a hurt ankle but apparently assured everyone that he was okay.

And then he came home.  He told me what happened.  And I saw his ankle - swollen and sore.

I thought we were dealing with a sprain.  After a trip to OIP we learned that we are actually dealing with a fracture in the growth plate and he's looking at being in a cast for the next 6 weeks.  That's the fall soccer season.  Done.  

He's handling it well.  He's a great kid.  

This morning he said "I can't believe one jump shot could turn my life upside down.  But it did."   

Later as we were getting him ready to go to school - because I'll be driving him - he said "I think one of the most difficult things is needing the help of others."

Like mother like son.  It isn't natural for me to ask others for help either.  I dealt with the whole facade of control when I was in college.  Granted, little lessons continue throughout life but the bulk of that lesson happened during my sophomore year.

I've observed Jeter tackling so many life lessons throughout his 11 young years.  Many of which he has dealt with earlier in life than I had to.  

My heart's cry has been for my ceiling to be the floor for my boys.  At the same time, I know there are certain lessons they need to tackle on their own and my heart swells with pride when I am amazed by how well they are learning to navigate through life.

This momma would have loved to have the ability to change what happened.  To keep my son from experiencing the pain and frustration of this fracture and the inconvenience it poses. Yet I know there are life lessons he will glean which will have a far greater impact on his character.

My hearts prayer is Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  NIV

Thankfully I don't have to yearn for the facade of control.  I know the one who can steady my heart no matter where I am in this journey of life.  He's done it before and He will do it again.