"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 6:31)
"But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray." (Luke 5:16)
There are days I return home with my four children and we're all starving for lunch. I think to myself…"If I could just step inside the refrigerator all by myself for five minutes, I would be able to then have the energy to prepare lunch for my children…" It's usually in these times that my baby cries to be nursed, and my son is falling all over himself telling me he's SO hungry he's going to DIE! …These are the moments I've decided to take on the Airplane Philosophy! You know the one, "If you're traveling with children, please secure your oxygen mask before you assist your children with theirs."…
I remember the first time I heard that I was taken back by the thought of not putting my children first…but how true it is. What good am I if I'm not breathing??? What kind of help would I be able to give to my children in need? I've taken this philosophy on several occasions when we arrive home late for lunch, needing to grab a quick sandwich before I pull out the whole spread for the kids.
This has made me think of how my God wants me to live by the airplane philosophy in more areas than just food…
How can I nurture and raise my children for God's glory if I haven't first spent time with my God? Taking time to sit on His lap, talk with Him, listen…and drink in His awesome presence and character? I'd be worthless. And trying to teach my children about my Lord would be so shallow and therefore would not be imbedded in my children's hearts the way I desire it to be…
The airplane philosophy…"If you're traveling with children, please secure your relationship with God before you assist your children with theirs."
- Linda Hoffman