Once upon a time there was a girl....a little redheaded girl who had two loving parents, a big white dog, legs that were longer than the rest, and a spirit of adventure. The little girl loved to run and jump and throw the football with her daddy. She was competitive. The little girl's parents didn't teach her how to play any sports, really, they just let her be who she wanted to be. As an only child, the girl would spend hours after school in her backyard shooting the basketball, across the street in the park dribbling the soccer ball, or on the side of the house hitting the tennis ball against the wall. No one told the little girl to do this, or asked her to, she just loved to move and play and win. When she started school, she played with the boys at recess and after the bell rung. She was a top pick for flag football and the boys respected her, she could hang, after all. The girl had a fire.
As time passed, the little girl grew strong and tall. Little red wasn't so little anymore, nor was her drive or her temper, for that matter. The girl would get in fights with boys and girls during her sports games. Her mommy and daddy would get very upset with her when she got in trouble with the referees, her teachers, and her friends' parents. One time the girl punched a boy on the basketball court after he fouled her. She got thrown out of the game. Another time, the girl jabbed a stick into the back of another boy after school on the playground. She was suspended. And once more, the girl threw a tennis ball at her opponent in a match. She was asked to step out of the tournament. The girl's parents punished her, threatened to stop letting her play sports, and even spanked her. Nothing really ever taught her to stop. She was feared among her opponents in sports for her ability. The girl had a fire.
Then, the girl found Jesus. He saved her. The girl was 12 years old.
The girl kept excelling at sports and kept struggling with her temper. She loved Jesus, but she was very much alone in her pursuit of Him. The girl did very well academically and athletically in high school. She still got in trouble, but not to the same degree as when she was younger. The girl tried and tried and tried to be better, but sometimes the fire inside got the best of her. It was her greatest strength in the world, but her greatest weakness in her soul. She went to college on a soccer scholarship 22 hours away from home. She had no idea what awaited her.
College made the girl's fire roar more than ever. She took the fire to the field and her books. She wasn't one of the best anymore, but she wanted to be. The pressure was great, the stress was real. The girl trusted God, she did...but much of her relationship with Him was in her mind and not her heart. She was a thinker, a do-er, a worker. She was designed to fight, so she did. The battle took its toll. The girl wrestled with control and fear. She got sick. Her coach stopped playing her. She prayed, oh how she prayed. She grew closer to God and grew more mature in her faith. She learned that life is not about her.
Then, the girl met a boy. The boy changed her. She was 19 years old.
The boy was very good at sports. He loved the girl, was patient with the girl, and led the girl. The boy changed the girl by teaching her more about God and His Son. The boy taught the girl to put her fire to good things like helping others. The boy taught the girl that sometimes the fire needs to die.
Then, the girl became the boy's wife. The girl was 23 years old.
The girl went to graduate school and started a business to help others find their own fires. The girl used her fire to train clients well. The girl used her fire to train herself and her husband well. The fire lived on.
Then, the girl had a baby. The baby changed her. She was 25 years old.
The baby was a girl. She was perfect. She showed the girl that God is great and big and mighty. The baby changed the girl by teaching her more about God and His Son. The baby taught the girl to put her fire to being a mommy. The baby taught the girl that sometimes the fire needs to die.
Then, the girl had another baby. The baby changed her. She was 27 years old.
The baby was another girl. She was perfect too. She showed the girl that she is weak and needs God. The baby changed the girl by teaching her more about God and His Son. The baby taught the girl to put her fire to serving her family. The baby taught the girl that sometimes the fire needs to die.
Then, the girl prayed for more babies.
Up until now, the girl worked and worked and earned and earned. The girl knew that God bought her the boy and the other babies, but she also thought that she had a part in it. She did something to get them too, right? She must have. She works hard.
Then, the girl waited. And waited. And waited.
In the waiting, the girl broke. She let go. She lost control. And for the first time since knowing and loving Jesus, the girl found true life for more than a time. The girl is now 29.
The girl still has the fire. In the waiting, she asks God if the fire needs to die forever...if the fire is what keeps God from giving her more children. God tells her no. He tells her that He does not delight in sacrifice but rather in a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart He says He will not despise (Psalm 51:16-17). He tells her that He gave her the fire, that the fire is beautiful, that the fire makes her unlike the rest. God tells the girl that the fire should always shine on and burn for Him.
The girl knows God now... not like she knew Him as she knew a jar of honey by its label...but like she knows a jar of honey by its taste. The girl understands that her fire has earned her nothing. The girl understands now that God gave her the fire. The girl understands grace. The girl understands the cross. The girl understands the GOSPEL.
The girl waits.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this come from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Though he slay me, I will hope in him.
Job 13:15