Bottle Lesson.....

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7: 7-8

Now you may be wondering what 'life lesson' could possibly come from a bottle....well let me tell you a true story......

One day as I was going about my daily routine I decided to open a bottle of water to make some instant tea.....well I tried to open the bottle and I couldn't get the cap to budge an inch. Now anyone who knows me knows that I was not going to let that bottle win the battle because I know that I'm stronger than that cap!

Then as I continued to struggle I heard this faint voice in my head saying " Why are your struggling? There is something in that drawer that will help you with that cap...why are you being so stubborn?" I laughed to myself and open the drawer and low and behold there was the rubber 'thingy' that would help me open this bottle. I got it out and with just one try the bottle cap was off!

As I poured the water into the glass I began to think about all the times I struggled in life simply because I refused to ask for help. There were many times in my life that I had the ‘I can do it by myself’ attitude  and to be truthful things didn’t turn out so well.

I spent a great deal of my life trying to do everything by myself because I thought that was how it was. It took me a long time to realize that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of maturity….when you ask for help you are not only helping yourself with whatever it is you are doing but you are helping the person, who helps you, learn to give and grow in serving. So this morning I gave my ‘rubber’ thingy the chance to do what he does best, help me grip the cap and we both succeeded in doing our job well.

Then as I always do I told God about my adventure and thanked him for his patience with my stubborness and especially for always helping me when finally ask.....Sometimes I get impatient with his help because it doesn’t happen when I think it should or how I think it ought to be ….. but if I’m being honest it is always at the right time and is always the right answer even if I don’t feel like it is…..sometimes I don’t know how he does what he does but I have come to realize that the how and the whys aren’t really important it’s the fact that he always answers and helps me in my times of struggle.

So the next time you are struggling with something, listen to that little voice saying “Why are you struggling? Ask for help and you will receive it.” Then before you ask someone for help, first ask God for help. He will always help you. Even if you don’t realize it is him helping….

Bernice Barnes