To Be Taught

To Be Taught: belief you can figure it out, self-confidence, safety in mistakes. 

The other day I was observing a father with his young daughter, whom he had asked to do the dishes. 

He ran the water until it was hot and gave it a squirt of dish-washing soap. The suds came up and filled the sink. She bravely started in swishing, scrubbing, and rubbing the dirty dishes until they shone, placing them in the other sink to await rinsing. Meanwhile "Dad" went off to do other things. Before long he was back to see how things were progressing. He stood beside her with quiet encouragement, as he rinsed the sink full of dishes and placed them in the drying rack. There was a certain camaraderie and closeness, even without much being said. I felt a bit wistful as I watched them working side by side. 

To me it is a picture of the Father. When he has a task for us he doesn't just expect us to know how and do it on our own. He makes sure we understand what is expected and have everything we need. He has confidence in our ability to do the job, and doesn't need to constantly be looking over our shoulder. On the other hand, he is checking in with words of encouragement and isn't beneath lending a helping hand.

He loves process because he is relational and the more time we get to spend together the better. He is the best teacher and he does it by walking alongside and working together with us. 

As a child I didn't learn self-confidence, that it was okay to make mistakes, or that I had the ability to figure things out, but thanks to The Compassion Method I am learning it now. Compassion means "being with" and that is the very nature of the Father. As I learn to "be with" myself in the mistakes and messiness of life, I can then experience the beauty that God created me for.