Yesterday I began teaching a new concept to my 7yo son in math and he was terrified when he saw what he was to learn. He looked at the worksheet he would be doing with that deer in the headlights look of fear in his eyes. I immediately explained that it was much easier than it looked and he would do fine, but inside I knew this was going to be a difficult few days of battling with him to let go of his fear which was crippling him from learning the concept and just give it a try. He never seems to remember that every time we have this battle it ends with him declaring "that was so easy, I can't believe I thought it would be hard!"

Well needless to say the lesson did not go well. Mommy and son were frustrated with each other and so we ended the lesson with "let's try again tomorrow". Well we sat down this morning to try again and my heavenly Father who is ever faithful to give me just what I need to do exactly what He has called me to do gave me a lightbulb moment in how to deal with the problem! The kids and I have been learning over the past year and a half that every issue in life comes back to pride vs. humility and this was no different. So before we started in again for a second attempt we had a heart to heart. I asked him by whose power did he have the ability to understand anything? He said it was only by God's power. I asked by whose power was he leaning on? He said that he was leaning on his own. I asked how that was working for him? Not so good! I asked him what we should do? He said pray. So we did. Then God pricked my conscience and asked me by whose power did I have the ablity to teach? Yours alone Lord. Whose power were you leaning on? Mine. He asked me how that was working for me? Not so good! He asked me what I thought I should do about it? Pray. So I confessed to my son that I had been leaning on my own power also the previous day and we prayed again for mommy.

The more I thought about it the more I realized that God is not willing to share His glory and so He waits for us to seek Him for what we need and then gives it to us so there won't be any doubt as to by whose power things are brought about. And the more I thought about it the more I started recognizing that this was truly a safeguard against us becoming prideful. We looooove to take the credit, but when there is no doubt that things were only accomplished by God then we can't rightly take credit for it. Now I can see why God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.