The Tumbling Tower

The other day I watched a couple of middle-school students play a game of Jenga during class. (Yes, they could have been doing something more productive).

For those of you who don't know what Jenga is, you build a tower of blocks and then see how many blocks you can slide out before the whole tower falls down. Each individual block adds strength to the whole, so the tower is progressively weakened by each block that is removed.

As I was watching this, I was thinking about how this game looks like life as a mom, and also life as a Christian.

Sometimes my tower of blocks feels strong. When I'm organized, making time for my friends, eating and sleeping well, and exercising. As a Christian, I feel strong when I make time for God and can feel myself releasing my cares to Him. When I pray with fellow believers. When I listen for His voice instead of voicing my own.

But sometimes that tower can crumble.

Like an avalanche, sometimes bad decisions and bad habits pile up, and worldly life gets in the way of what I know is most important. At first everything seems to be going fine. One block gone... getting enough sleep. No problem, I'll just have extra coffee. No time to read the Bible. Gotta work on that, but no time now. One more block gone. I meant to call my struggling friend, but I just forgot. Another block, and the tower is looking a little wobbly.

Sometimes my tower will be wobbly for months before I finally get back on track and refocus on what I know is important for me, my family, and my faith. Other times I feel that it is on the verge of total collapse, and by then it feels too late to strengthen it in time.

As a mom and a Christian, I have such a responsibility to those I love to keep my blocks in order and strong, so that I will not be swayed by the difficulties that enter my life.

Lord, please help me to remember that what is most important is a relationship with You. You are my strength and my shield. Help me be strengthened in you so that I might be a light to others.