Control

This week has been interesting... As a mom of adult children I'm learning how to let go of what I used to be able to control. Not an easy task. Things at work added to the thought process of control as well. What do I need to "let be" and believe that it will be okay? Questions I'm pondering this morning...

I'm learning how to let go in other areas too. Trying to realize that being in control is not always positive. Learning how to "be" is one of the most important life skills we can learn. Some days I do this better than others.

These thoughts started when I watched a little Instagram reel by Rabbi Shais. He was addressing the issue of why it is hard to receive. The idea of receiving is that it should be easy. Who doesn't like to receive something? And yet... for many it is hard. The Rabbi's thought is that when you give you are in control and being in control means we can dictate when, where, how etc... When we are in the mode of receiving it means we have to let go of our notions and surrender to what is happening. That is not easy.

When we do receive, it is easiest to receive from someone who is safe. Someone who respects boundaries. Someone who "gets us."

Letting go is difficult. I admit that I still want to tell my adult children how to handle a situation. Sometimes I do and then regret it because - guess what - I'm not in control anymore.

Receiving is not easy because it does mean letting go... It really does put a person in a place of surrender. Realizing that God has so much for us to receive sounds great, until we realize that we have to "let go" and surrender our thoughts and beliefs in order to receive those blessings.

As I am reading my Shabbat Prayer book this morning, this prayer stuck out to me:

HELP ME, O GOD, to find still moments,

quiet spaces within to refresh my soul;

cease my questions, my inner debates.

And let me meditate on Your goodness.

Help me, O God, to nurture my courage,

recalling moments of strength,

remembering days of fortitude,

the certainty of Your regard.

Help me, O God, to turn to the light,

warmed face and fingers outstretched,

alive, alive in Your sight.

Pg 361

Mishkan T'Filah A Reform Siddur

This prayer is not specifically about control. It is, however, about outstretching our hands and RECEIVING His light and blessings. When I am able to do this, then I find that my questions and inner debates and I REMEMBER WHO is in control.

Letting go and losing control really does help us be more alive. More confident. Strong.

Today - find a way to let go and lose control. Let things happen as they need too. Find time to still your soul. Meditate on HIS goodness.

Shabbat Shalom -

Rose