women's words God is showing all of us spiritual truth in our daily lives. Start looking for the ways He is teaching you, and then share it with your sisters in Christ. Let's bless one another with the way God speaks to us individually! Bible Studies | Upcoming Events | Women's Words | Zoe Mentoring | Moms & More | Service Ministries | Bible Studies Archive This week's SELF-PROPELLED By Jen Seger Author Susan Yates wrote about the thrill she got from mowing the lawn when her children were small because it was the only visible accomplishment she could do that her children couldn’t undo ten minutes later. These days my husband and sons usually mow the lawn, but I often get impatient because their work and school interfere with my desire for cut grass. And in the rainy spring season, it can be challenging to find a time to mow when the grass is actually dry. The first mowing of 2008 fell on my to-do list. I had the ultimate incentive: out-of-town company. Due to several months in hibernation, the mower resisted being started but eventually came to life. However, every few rows the motor would cut back off. The grass was so thick that the clippings were keeping the blade from turning, which caused the mower to turn itself off. I started to be able to hear when the blade was slowing down. If I too slowed down or stopped, the blade would keep going and the motor would regain its power. But if I tried to push through too quickly, it would cut off immediately. It was infuriating to have to stop every so often to keep the mower running. One of the worst traits I’ve passed on to my children is the tendency to blame someone when the going gets tough. As I struggled to mow the lawn to impress my guests, I began to get angry at the male members of my household who had let me down by not realizing a well-groomed lawn was more important than careers and schoolwork. The noise of the mower did little to drown out the ranting going on in my head. I was in full martyr-mode. Just like my mower, I was “self-propelled” – selfish, self-righteous, and full of self-pity. I later realized that what my mower needed to get through the mess of overgrown grass was the same answer for me: slow down. Be willing to stop and listen. Wait to move forward once strength is regained. When my agenda becomes my driving force, I am self-propelled and no longer listening to God. Life then gets clogged up, and I have to slow down and listen. And when I push harder instead of listening, my motor will die completely. A self-propelled mower has front wheels that turn on their own. I too was “spinning my wheels” as I fought through this task that I believed must happen right then. The older I get, the more I realize that little good comes from anything that starts with the prefix of “self.” But slowing down and listening can keep our “self” in check.
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