Are you like an elephant?

You may be more like an elephant than you think. Apparently circus elephants are chained to a stake in the ground. Having asked why the elephant doesn’t simply use it considerable weight and strength to rip the stake out of the ground the following explanation was given. When an elephant is still a baby it is chained to a stake and it does everything it can to escape; it pulls hard against the chain but cannot free itself. Eventually the elephant learns that it cannot escape and it remembers this for the rest of its life so that it becomes more a prisoner in its mind than in reality.

We are like an elephant when we accept something in our lives as being impossible to escape. Perhaps we are trapped in an abusive relationship, or can’t overcome an addiction, or seem to always respond to our family members in a way that we wish we could change. Are you like the elephant that has tried so hard in the past and has now given up? As a parent I’ve been frustrated with myself with respect to being in a rut with my kids. It is so easy to be busy or stressed that I don’t give them the emotional support and affection they deserve from me, their father.

Jesus Christ said of himself that God had sent him set the captives free (Luke 4:18). If you would like to be free of what holds you captive then why not ask Jesus Christ to help you? For me, I’ve seen this working with my attitude and behaviour with my kids. When they fight or do other things that gets under my skin I’ve learned to respond with frustration rather than anger. Even though this is a small step, it is a step in the right direction. I’ve also pushed myself to listen to them, to give them time, to connect with them and in so doing, show them that I love them. 

If you would like to know more then listen or watch the sermon “Be Renewed” www.godsgap.net/freedom  or you can get in touch with me by email.

the Rev (Chris Perona)

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