I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. Romans 7:18-19
Go back about an hour, and peace reigns. We're just arriving at the car park. My two daughters have agreed to swap car seats on the return journey.
In the present, we have climbed back into the car and Eldest's promise of swapping seats is forgotten. Each of my little princesses is implacable and very vocal. The volume is rising rapidly. It's clear that I need to hold Eldest to her word, and restore peace soon. But what to do?
The larger part of me is gearing up to issue the ultimatum. My imagination whirs as I reach for some consequence for disobedience that will secure compliance and quiet. But for some reason, I pause.
"You know what the right thing is to do, don't you?" I ask Eldest.
"Yes," she says. "But I just don't want to do it. It's too hard." Her voice is small. How can she fight herself? She is evenly matched.
So we pray. All four of us pray together that Eldest will have the strength to do what's right. We pray that her will can overcome her desires. That we will wait patiently while she wages this battle.
Number Two is not quite five, and things are dragging a bit. I can hear the complaint making its way from her mind to her mouth ...
"Just wait, honey," I interrupt her. "We need to give Eldest some time. This is really important. It's about the sort of person she will grow up to be."
So we wait; and Eldest prays and wrestles.
Then as quickly as it all blew up, it's over. "You can have my seat." She speaks quietly, but decidedly.
Battle over; battle won. Thank you Holy Spirit.
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