God, Whom Do I Need to Entrust to Your Care?
My lord, I guaranteed to my father that I would take care of the boy. I told him, “If I don’t bring him back to you, I will bear the blame forever.”
Genesis 44:32, NLT
Did you ever have that school assignment where you had to take care of an egg or a rock or an actual doll for a week? There were rules about your responsibilities: The object couldn’t be alone, you had to “feed” it, you needed to get a babysitter when you were gone, and so on. Did anyone actually manage to keep it “alive” according to the rules?
Caring for another human being is, of course, much harder. Often, we’re not just in charge of keeping her alive; we’re in charge of helping her thrive.
Here’s one thought that can help us breathe a little easier when we’re responsible for caring for another: God has a plan for that person that goes well beyond our influence. And it’s a good plan.
ACT
Write down the name of someone you feel responsible for. Make a list of what you can and can’t do to help. For example, you can cook a meal, but you can’t make them always choose healthy food. Get clear about what is and what is not yours to do.
pray
God, help me remember the long list of people who have influenced my life for the better. Give me hope for those I tend to worry about by reminding me that it’s not all mine to take care of.