My mom tells a funny story about my sister when she was little. Karyn, prone to drama, was frustrated after being corrected by my mom and decided to run away. She headed out of the house on her tricycle with only the bare necessities…her baby sister (me, standing on the back), and my diapers. She headed off up a huge hill pedalling feverishly. It was a futile escape. She eventually went back home to where people loved her, cared for her, provided for her, and protected her.
It dawned on me at some point in my life as wife, mother, and homemaker, that I too try to escape at times. Rather than pick up and leave, I do something more socially acceptable. In the past some of my great escapes were t.v., sleep, shopping. More recently God is showing me that the internet is my vacation of choice. I love getting online and checking blogs, reading the latest and the greatest. It gets me out of my world for a little while. None of my escapes in and of themselves are wrong. In fact, each one could be a means of grace. But I am convicted lately about hopping on my tricycle of blogworld, and e-mail and running away from the life God has called me to.
God’s will for me as a woman, is safe. If I try to avoid disciplining my kids, or doing quality homeschooling. If I let the laundry pile up, or play, “tag, you’re it” when Jason comes home. If I know there is something I could be doing, but have decided to click from blog to blog instead – it is like running away on a tricycle. God is so gracious to remind me to “come home”. Yes, I’m here bodily, but is my heart here?
God help me to know when I am escaping life on the tricycle of an acceptable activity. Help me to obey you and return to the beautiful life you’ve called me to as a woman.
*I first wrote this a few years ago, and it is so humbling to re-read it and find that it is still true of me today. So often I still try to escape when life gets hard on my tricycle of acceptable activity. I am grateful that another truth remains the same: God persistently pursues me and calls me to come back to Him. It is sweet restraining grace that never lets me wander too far.
Thank you so much for this post. We started potty training this weekend and one of the thoughts I had many times today was, “This is really going to take away from ‘me time’ on the computer each morning.” Thanks for the gentle reminder (shove!).
Thanks for sharing that again, especially with the little addition at the bottom. When I look back over my old journals, I notice the same things keep coming up, but under different circumstances sometimes. It lets me know God is still working and he isn’t going to stop until he brings me home.
Thank you so much for this encouragement! So often I think that I “deserve” a break – when in fact, I don’t at all! How good to have this reminder.
Hi Laurie,
Welcome back! I missed my little escapes with your writing. Very good reminder!
Excellent Laurie!
Your post reminds my of Hebrews 12
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Have a great weekend!
Amen. Thanks for sharing. When, by God’s grace, I am fighting the battle this summer to leave the computer and go be with my kids, I will remember that you’re in the battle with me too. Good idea to share old posts with an update.
Hi there,
Can i translate this in French to put on my blog? I’ve been thinking a lot about this escaping lately…
Thanks,
Martha