Sighing In The Bleachers
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“Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” Romans 8:26
She told me she was living her life in the bleachers with her grandchildren. I asked her to explain what she meant. She said, “I enjoy watching my grandchildren participate in sports and other events, but I do not have to provide everything for the activity nor be at every game or practice. I choose when it fits into my schedule and priorities. It is the responsibility of my children to provide for their children.” Interesting way of stating how she was living, but it has made me ponder this concept. Am I adding responsibility to my life that is not mine?
I have shared how to step in and step out of situations and people’s drama. You enjoy time with a person or a family event and live in the moment, and then you step out and are not responsible for other people’s lives or decisions. The idea of living in the bleachers adds the responsibility of being a supportive cheerleader and enjoying the adventure with them. It is also knowing your role. You are not their coach, so you are not telling them how to live or play the game. You encourage them and remind them you are with them and care about who they are and what they are doing. You are not in control.
So, what happens when they mess up on the field of life and you are in the bleachers? They do not want your advice, your criticism, your judgment, or your corrective plan. So you just sigh. You sit there and know you cannot change the situation even though you want to fix it. You have no words and no power to change the outcome. At times, you just listen. Sometimes you are asked to give your opinion or provide clarity as they work through the current situation. Most of the time I am learning, I just sigh within me and say, “God, I do not know what to pray but I am sitting here in the bleachers with you.”
Sighing takes the focus off ourselves and our need to solve the situation. Sighing calms our inner soul and fills us with God’s Spirit. I want my first response to any situation to be like what God does to my own mess ups and brokenness. God responds with grace. I am weak and broken and make wrong decisions and create anxiety and worry because of my choices. God knows we are weak and do not know what to do. God’s Spirit – the Holy Spirit – “intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” In the past I have read this scripture and thought it meant only in formal prayer. No, the Spirit intercedes in every aspect of our lives and gives us this gift of sighing.
I sighed in the bleachers throughout this week as I counseled and listened to the hurts and struggles of my clients and family. I am not living their lives but have become their cheerleader and at times they bring me to the sidelines as their coach. In my weakness, I do not know what advice to give them, so I sigh and the Spirit speaks through me. Sometimes I even get amazed what comes out of my mouth and I thank God for giving me His wisdom and words. Sometimes I sigh knowing I am not going to influence them nor are they wanting to change.
To sigh is to release to God what is going on within you. Sometimes we sigh to release emotions and feelings. Other sighs are an acceptance of the situation. We sigh when we do not know what to say or do. We can even sigh when the feeling of wonder and awe totally amaze us and words do not adequately convey the moment. To sigh in the bleachers is to accept other people for who they are and the decisions they are making. We may not agree, but we can still love them and be a support to them. Sighing in the bleachers also acknowledges we are not in control. God is. So sigh and wait for God’s leading before you speak. Sometimes just being present is all we need to do.
Let’s sigh!
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You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com
My Books found on Amazon
Live Different Moments -available on Amazon -
Living In The Different
https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/
Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/
