Tuesday Table Talk Topic is - Flexibility

Alright here we go....strrreeetttccchhhh. Remember gym class or your yoga and stretching exercises it the fitness club. I always thought it was fun to see just how flexible I could be. Now we joke with our kids on how flexible we all are (funny as can be!) I have learned from cheerleading and fitness clubs, that the only real way to become more flexible is slow and steady stretching - and I mean very slow and really steady!

A while ago, I was working in a situation that taxed my flexibility in other areas. Plans would change not daily, but by the minute. Moods would vary, and emotions were raw. I came home nightly and worked my heart out and begged God for direction and relief. That was a wonderful chance for me to be more flexible and "go with the flow," as I often tell my children. My main problem with those situations was I am a rule follower, if rules change or are not followed, I am derailed.

More recently, I have been involved in some meetings where everyone was told that all have to be flexible. Yet I did not see all parties bending or stretching in any way. Then some others were being expected to literally bend over backwards to accommodate all the rest. That is a tough road to be on, but again, another terrific opportunity to stretch and gain steady flexibility; and true strength.

It is not easy to become flexible, it hurts. You are stretching to what seems to be beyond capacity. Let's look at parenting. To get there, one must be flexible...hellooo 7lbs through 10 cm.
I am realizing more each day, our lives are the same way. To seriously exist in an ever changing world and live with people from every background (and in all moods,) we have got to stretch ourselves, bend ourselves and become a little more flexible.

Perhaps we don't know what is going on with the other person or situation? Look at the attached video (They don't understand) from Sawyer Brown. Perhaps we can slow down stretch it out and become a little more flexible with each other. I sure want to try, what do you think?

I have a friend who had to carry a huge load of wood one time because no one else would be bothered. He asked not to do it, but said if it was his job he would. He was using every muscle he had to carry that wood. He was informed it was part of his job description and he must do the job, so he did what he had to do; and HE DID IT WITHOUT GRIPING AT EVERYONE MARY!!
If that weren't enough, the very people he was helping, were nasty and slanderous to him. Amazingly he did not try to get them fired or take them to court.

In the spirit of being flexible, He let them nail Him to the very wood he carried - and showed all of us the ultimate flexibility; as he was hanging, slow and steady stretching to the very max - even death. Did it hurt? Was the pain worth it? No pain no gain huh?

It is hard to be flexible and always be the one bending for the others. What is your story?