Wednesday, March 20, 2013

A Life Lesson Learned from Lego

You never know when life is going to teach you a lesson, it often comes in unexpected ways and by means we would never expect.

My son loves everything Lego.  He builds them, watches videos about them and he dreams of being a Lego designer someday.  He really is very good at building them.

It wasn't always this way.  His first few Lego sets usually involved him putting a few bricks in place and then me finishing up the set.  Soon he would stick with me the whole time, though I still did a lot of the work.  Then he only wanted me to help find pieces in the pile and he would put them all in place.

Before I knew it, he would get a new set, take it up to his room and come back a a little while later with it totally complete.  He knew he could do it, he had total confidence and faith in his abilities.  If you asked him, he was the perfect Lego builder.

As his 8th birthday approached he really wanted the Lego Technic Supercar.  I worried a little as this set was designed for much older kids; but after all he was the perfect Lego builder so we got it for him.

He ran up to his room with his new set and began building.  He quickly progressed but then he hit a step and realized something, somewhere along the way he had made a mistake.  He tried to fix it but he did not know how and he lost it.

Full blown tears and screaming on the ground losing it.

I offered to help fix it, he refused saying it was impossible; it could never be fixed.  I tried reasoning with him, I tried reassuring him- heck I even tried threatening him that I would never buy a set like this for him again... but he refused.

Refused to touch it and said he would never build Legos again.   I really was lost as to what I should do.  I felt helpless and like there was nothing I could do.

Almost a month passed.

One Saturday he approached his father. "Dad can you help me fix my car" he humbly asked.
"Of course" he agreed.

With the help of his father they were able to figure out where the mistake was and were able to fix it and move forward completing the car.

It was not until he finally decided he would not be able to do it and that he did need help, not until he swallowed his pride and asked his father for help that he was able to do it.

I often go through life relying on my "perfect" skills: my wisdom, my life experience, my ability to work hard; all good wonderful and necessary things.  At times life even seems easy and really good.   But then something happens and I don't know how to fix it.

I can cry and scream and throw myself on your floor, all tactics I have used at some point.  But then I  remember, remember what I have learned many times and what my son helped me relearn once again.  No matter how skilled and adequate I am, I cannot do it alone.  I need to humble myself, reach out and say "Father, I cannot do it; will you help me?"

And He does.

The impossible becomes possible.  Through Him my imperfect, mistake prone- self can become perfect-- but only when I say "I cannot do it, help me, save me."

Thank you my son for helping me remember that I cannot do it alone-- only through my Savior is it possible.
My son with his completed Supercar


Linking today with Shell

23 comments:

  1. Well said and so true. Our world teaches us that when we get to the end of our rope, we are supposed to tie a knot and hang on, but what we really need to do is let go and let the Father catch us.

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  2. Really great thoughts, Emmy. Amazing the things our kids end up teaching us. :o) I have always had trouble asking for help, whether it be from friends or in prayer. It's just human I guess to like to think you can do everything all by yourself.

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  3. what a great lesson to learn and share. plus what an awesome car think he take me for a spin in it.

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  4. I love this post, Emmy... Such a beautiful way of putting things in perspective, and amazing how little life lessons can turn up... Even with Lego. :)

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  5. So true! I fail miserably when I try to do things in my own strength, but through Christ all things are possible!

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  6. Wow...a great lesson...and shows that in every day life we have lessons in the most unexpected places!

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  7. Great post - who knew that Lego could teach us a life lesson!

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  8. One thing that stands out to me is how when we see Lucas with the completed car, we never would have guessed the road was hard. We all have hard things and sometimes it's easy to look at others and not realize what they may be going through.

    I loved this post. I'm grateful too, that with God all impossible things are made possible. He really does SAVE us.

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    1. Great point! Thanks Emmy, for sharing this story. And Rachel, I always need reminders like this!

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    2. Oh you are so right!! I never even thought of it that way, but that is so true too!

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  9. I think I am still a lot like your son-- throwing myself on the floor and refusing to believe there is another way-- I am really bad with asking for help but I know in the end, doing things together is ultimately the best part of life. I swallow my pride everyday..sweet story!!

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  10. Beautiful. Don't you love when you learn a lesson like this? Here's to many more Lego mistakes and sure fixes.

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  11. I read this (via pinterest) earlier today, but wanted to pop in anyhow.

    What a great life lesson learned in this - I've had many similar moments of clarity!

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  12. So true!

    Often we hesitate (or even refuse) to ask for help... forgetting that our Father is who makes us complete and we need Him no matter!

    Thankful that He is patient with us :)

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  13. A great lesson indeed, and a powerful message to share. And something we need to remember always, but often forget.

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  14. You are so right, Emmy. I'm finding that the older the kids get, the harder it is to
    "fix" things. It's so hard to see them struggle.
    I love that he finished it with the help from your husband. He looks so proud in that picture :)
    xo

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  15. This lesson is one that I have to learn and relearn and learn again... many many times.

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  16. What a great post, and a great message.

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  17. Oh Emmy, this is awesome! You don't know how much I needed to hear this even! Life has been throwing me rough patches and I love this!

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  18. Oh, so sweet... Legos teach a lot of things, don't they? What a great car your son built! Really amazing.

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  19. What a sweet reminder. Kids are the best at that, aren't they? I think that is why we get to have the opportunity to be parents. So it is easier for us to see things with an eternal perspective, and to see ourselves in relation to Heavenly Father. Beautiful.

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