You may have noticed that I haven’t been posting all that regularly, of late. It hasn’t been for lack of trying, but I’ve been having the hardest time pulling thoughts together with any more success than trying to hold a tight fist full of sand.
Really, now that I say that, I have to admit that it’s not just thoughts I’ve been trying to pull together, or coherent and cohesive words on a page. It’s the elements of my life right now, too. Grasping, and holding as tightly as I can, I try to keep those “grains of sand” from falling away, slipping from my control, and becoming part of a landscape I don’t recognize as my own.
What I’ve come to realize is that living life “tight-fisted” is not the way it was intended. I’ve tried so hard to grab and hold and control that which is completely uncontrollable. I’ve spent countless hours, days…years of energy maintaining an iron grip, thinking that maybe today will be the day that the sand doesn’t shift or fall. But it always does…it’s the nature of living a gloriously unpredictable life. No, the tight fist is not the way.
So, what is?
I believe it’s the open hand.
Open-handed living, as I’m coming to understand it, was meant to be a life of reciprocal giving: God handing down the elements of our lives and, instead of grabbing them and holding on tight, we hold them back up to Him, as an offering. I think a part of me always knew this concept, but it wasn’t until so many grains of sand began to fall that I realized the “tight grip” control I thought I had was an illusion.
Only upon that realization have I slowly begun to relax my hand and realize that my whole body began to relax with it. Only then did I see that light is able to penetrate what I’ve been holding so I can better see it for what it really is. I’m able to start letting go of stuff I really don’t need to hold onto. The rest can now be offered up to the strong hand of God for safe-keeping, just as it was intended.
Things in my world are still uncertain, and nowhere near perfect, but I’m beginning to feel a little more free. I can now enjoy walking the beach of my life without having to worry about trying to hold all the sand…freely praising its Maker with open hands.
Melinda,
What a beautiful awakening in your heart. I love ya so much and I always learn from you.
Oh Melinda I love you! This was so good! Thank you for your raw honesty!! Love jenny
Melinda, this really hit home. As a Mother and Grandmother,having an open hand is so hard. Letting go of grown children is the hardest thing for a mother to do. It is still hard for me to have an open hand but with the Holy Spirit's help, I'm finally doing better. (aren't you glad)
I read the following in, Chicken Soup For The Mother's Soul.
When you were small I covered
you with a blanket to keep
warm. Now that you are grown
and out of reach, I fold my
hands and cover you with
prayer!!
I love the scripture that says, Lean not unto thine own understanding, but in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path.
God will help you keep an Open Hand as you put your trust in Him.
I'm so thankful that you are my daughter and I love you so much!!!! Mom
What peace in giving it all to Him!
Melinda, what a beautiful post. I so love your heart. I'm so glad you are beginning to feel free.
I love you my friend!!!
Melinda,
I am such a control freak and for so long I lived with my hand tightly clenched around whatever came my way so that i could control it. As I grow older, I'm dicscovering that in truth, I control very little. As I open my hand and give it to Him, I find such incredible peace.
Leah
Thank you for a beautiful post. I can see God working in you and you letting Him do it. I love your sweet heart. I always enjoy your nuggets of wisdom.
Blessings,
Joanne
Melinda:
I have learned not to control anything but me. It's hard when people around me try to control me. But they have to learn the lesson I learned.
God desires we all look to Him to help us through the issues of our lives-those we can control as well as those we can't.
And dear friend, when your hand is open, there is room for mine in its grasp too. You are not alone. I bow my head with you and lift my voice in unison.
Blessings.
Dearest Friend…I so get this!! For so long, and still struggle with, trying to grip my life tightly in my own hands. What I know to be true though, is that we are truly "gripped" by the sovereignty of God's hands. Nothing, NOTHING, can change or hinder His plans from happening!! Our lives and choices do not surprise Him…He never makes a mistake. He is the author of our lives. Oh…to really rest in that!! In the book. "Gripped by the Greatness of God", James MacDonald says, " If today you are broken, feeling crushed by the weight of a trial, you have a choice. You can harden your heart and refuse the SOVEREIGN purposes of God that will one day prove good,or you can run to Him and participate in the blessing God has planned." I so so want to ALWAYS run to Him and participate in the blessings He has planned!! Thank you for encouraging me this morning to keep opening my hand and to rest in HIS great, All Knowing, and Loving Hands.
You are a gift to my heart this morning!!
Kelly
(Sorry..I just realized how truly too long this is) 🙂 🙂
I love you, sweet Melinda! I'm praying for you and just know how much you've lifted my heart today. Lifting my hand more freely to offer up to Him what He has so easily gifted to me!
Y'all are all so dear. Thank you for your encouragement!
Kelly: Do you have a place on the web I can visit? I would sure love to drop by, if you do! :o)
I wonder what leads us towards the closed hand (or vice versa, the open). Ebb and flow of life?
Came over, btw, through A Simple Country Girl, who so nicely celebrated you in our 12 Day Celebration at http://highcallingblogs.com
Beautiful, Melinda and so true. As my kids continue to grow and fly away, I am understanding this concept more and more. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Keep up the God work.
what a beautiful, thought provoking post. I loved it! It's so much easier to live when everything is His.
I just found your blog and I love your style of writing, I'll be back to read more!