Feeding Yourself

I remember vividly when we first began to teach our children how to feed themselves. It is a wonder that they ever received any nourishment during those initial months because, at first, most of what they attempted to put into their mouths ended up all over their faces, their hair, the highchair and the floor! It was a marvel that I did not give up and feed them myself because of the mess they made!

There were times when they wanted us to feed them..."Feed me mommy", I would often hear them say! Why? Because it was a lot easier for me to feed them than for them to feed themselves!! How sad and silly would it be if I never encouraged, expected, exhorted them to feed themselves?? Can you imagine how ridiculous it would look for them now, as young adults, for their mother or father to feed them simply because we did not take the time, energy, work to have them do it themselves?

Many Christians are used to being "spoon fed" spiritual food in the same manner as our parents fed us physical food....and it is difficult learning how to feed ourselves. Honestly, I struggle with it all the time!! Often, I would MUCH rather someone else teach me, speak to me, preach to me, than to go to the Word myself!

If you are "feeding" yourself, please do not feel frustrated if you feel like your "food" is making a mess, or that you don't feel like any of it is providing any spiritual nourishment or that you would rather give up and have someone else feed you!! It is a process....and it takes time....and it will be well worth it!!

If you are not feeding yourself at the banquet table of the Lord....find someone who will teach you how. If you are not teaching your children how to "feed" themselves spiritually, begin now!! I was broken-hearted when my unbelieving mother asked my, then ten-year-old, son why he believed what he did about Christianity....and he could not answer. I had failed him.