"ME DO"

I will instruct thee and teach thee in

way which thou shalt go:  I will guide

thee with mine eye.
Psalm 32:8

Our son Johnny has always been very articulate. While a little one, 18 months and growing, I never had to figure out any gibberish from Johnny. He spoke clearly and didn't hesitate to ask for anything he wanted. We had two other children, but in their growing in those younger years, there were two words they didn't use that Johnny did...”Me do.” Perhaps it was an indicator of future manhood.

Around the age of two, Johnny had his first jeans with elastic waist and for a younger guy, they could be hard to pull up. I think I helped Johnny with those jeans perhaps two times and after that, my offers of helping him were answered with “Me do.” I'm not being critical of him at all. He wasn't being sassy. He honestly felt he could handle the situation.

At our childrens ages, we didn't know what Velcro on shoes was. Children had to learn to tie their shoes. In most cases, children couldn't go to kindergarten unless they knew ahead of time how to tie their shoes. Our oldest daughter basically taught her two younger siblings how to tie their shoes and both learned quickly. Even with the shoes with times of the tying process not going well, Johnny could be heard saying, “Me do” and he generally did.

It's cute watching and listening to young tots as they learn, struggle with some basics and want so much to feel independent in their skills already. My children were not exceptions. Young children really do want to feel they have arrived so to speak in dealing with difficult skills or challenges.

As children get older and especially as they approach the teen years, they may not not speak as a young child saying, “Me do.” It's more likely they will say, “This is what I'm going to do” and want the adults in their lives to approve. With those growing up years under all our belts, we may not use those two words, at least not in that way in interacting with spouses, bosses, teachers or other authority.

I have been thinking about our folly in how we regard our loving Heavenly Father who makes himself available to us, His children to be of help, guidance and direction. Most often, we feel we can handle the things of life with little or no help from anyone else, let alone from God. I'm thinking of the times, in my own life, when I failed to go to my Father first for His help and provision, but came to my own rescue so to speak. 

In our adulthood, we wish our concerns were as simple as tying our shoes or pulling up jeans, but in a child's world, those are big things. Parents stand ready to help just as my Heavenly Father stands ready to do the same in my life. I wonder how many times, not in specific words, have I responded to my Heavenly Father's outstretched hand with, “Me do.”

It sounds childish that we would speak to our Father in such a way, but I must evaluate in my own life my level of spiritual maturity. We're supposed to grow up spiritually just as we do physically. Johnny doesn't need my help with tying shoes nor my girls with their life skills. 

All three children are now adults and know well how to take care of themselves.

It can be sad in looking with reality where we are in spiritual age. “Me do” Christians are sadly very immature. They feel they don't need anyone's counsel, help or even strengthening from God. Folks like this usually look good, and may appear spiritually to be mature. They are often folks who struggle to live the Christian life with little if any help or strength from the source of their salvation. It's frustrating for them just like a small boy struggling to tie his shoes, but too proud to ask for help.

I know I've gone through times in my spiritual life when I've been a “me do” Christian. Those were not good days for me...”me do” days of any kind are unfulfiling and frustrating. I was so thankful for God's loving hand that stayed available to me. I still at my age, require His nurturing, encouraging and love. I've had to learn that most things I attempt spiritually cannot be with a “me do” attitude. I'm learning the most beneficial spiritual attitude I can have that is the best for me is “We do” because there's just not much I can accomplish without my Heavenly Father.

And Father, I'm so grateful for Your watchful eye over my life. There are times I move away with my own attitude and it never works. I'm so grateful for You in my life, for Jesus' dying for me and for Your Holy Spirit who guides and teaches me in an ongoing way. You are so precious in my life. In Jesus name....Amen