Livin Lively

By Peggy Lively

            Whenever I fly with my children, the flight attendant comes over and speaks to me after she has demonstrated all the safety features of the plane. She reminds me that if there is a change in cabin pressure and the oxygen masks drop down that I need to place the mask on myself first then put them on my children.

          At first, this may seem a little selfish, like “save yourself,” instead of the courteous, “women and children first” mentality. But the truth is that one of the side effects of oxygen deprivation is losing concentration and awareness. If the brain is deprived of oxygen even for a few minutes, then we are unable to think clearly or act properly.

          Therefore, if I take the extra time to try and put the masks on my children first, then I become less aware and less capable of completing the task properly. As a result, I may not have the ability to help myself or my children. But if I help myself first, then I will continue to receive the oxygen necessary to be able to help my children as well.

          In the same way, I can’t help my children (or others) spiritually if I haven’t nurtured my own spiritual life first. I won’t be thinking clearly in order to give them wisdom and help them in a time of need.

          How can I respond to them with God’s truth if I don’t know it? How can I teach them to know Jesus better if I don’t spend time with Him? How can I teach them to apply God’s Word if I don’t live it?

          In the event of an emergency, am I spiritually equipped to aid those that need rescuing?

 “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.”  II Timothy3:16-17, NET