Prayables | Breaking Out

Published: Sun, 12/12/21

Sunday December 12, 2021

Are people truly helping others to fulfill their Divine potential by taking on their obligations, and shielding them from their rightful responsibilities? Are we helping
others when we try to dictate what is for their best interest? Although it is difficult to watch loved ones go through a challenge, you know that there is a certain amount of work that they need to do on their own, in order to learn lessons from life. There was a woman that had a very hard time watching a young bird struggling to peck the shell away while hatching. The woman finally couldn't stand it any longer, and started to gently break away the shell, so that the young bird would not
have to struggle. But what she sadly discovered is that the struggle was designed to give the young bird strength that it would need later in life. Even though it was hard to watch the young bird shaking and trembling and trying so hard to break free of the egg, this is exactly what she should have done without touching or trying to help. The young bird never developed because it never used the muscles to help itself. You can and do aid others in their spiritual development by listening to
them, praying for and with them, and giving them unconditional love. You help others by encouraging them to help themselves. They can help themselves most by recognizing the presence and following the instruction of God. Christopher Chenoweth

BREAKING OUT

Libby knew hardship and struggle. She is only eight years old with little guidance from her mother or father, who are virtually absent in her young life.

You could call her a free-range child. She is free to wonder and wander about in her neighborhood, walking for miles after school to explore and discover nature's mysteries.

One hot summer day, she noticed something unusual in the side yard of a blue-colored one-story house on Maypole street. There was a chicken pen with birds in it. They were walking around pecking and peeping. A rickety ramp led to a little house with a green roof and white windows.

Libby walked up to get a closer look.

Nobody was around. The chickens were on their own. Off in the corner of the pen was a lone egg. Libby knew what an egg was, but she never before saw what could happen to an egg that wasn't in her refrigerator. This one was very different.

The chicken coop egg was cracked in many places, and she could see tiny thin lines getting longer and larger. Libby watched intently as a baby chick pecked its way out of the hatching egg.

Libby's heart was bursting with sadness.

"Look how that baby chick is struggling!" She said out loud.

It was hard to watch the newborn chick shake and tremble to release itself from the shell.

She thought that she must do something to help the newborn chick. Libby reached inside the coop and started to break away the shell gently.

Just then, a man came out of the blue house. Quietly and calmly, he walked over to Libby and the egg. He lifted his hand to motion "stop" to the little girl.

She looked up at the man with tears streaming down her face and obeyed his command.

He took Libby by the hand, and they sat on the back steps where they could watch the coop without disturbing the chicks.

He explained. "The birth process for the newborn chick requires struggle. God plans it that way. Struggles give the chick strength needed to survive in life. We mustn't interfere. Sometimes help can hurt."

Libby knows all about hurt and struggles.

He went on. "It's the same way with people."

She thought carefully about what the man had explained to her.

She realized right then and there; she could grow stronger on her own. The way she figured it, she is stronger because of her hardship and struggles.

"Let's thank God now." She said to the man from the blue house.

And so, they did. The two new friends prayed together in the presence of God's miracles and wisdom.

By Susan Diamond