The Eggshell Dance

Walking on eggshells was not for me. I’d had years of childhood training and was far more advanced than that. I performed perfectly choreographed dance routines on eggshells.

My performances were spectacular.  He would walk in the room and I would sense his mood.  For a bad mood, I immediately went into my well-honed fix-it routine.   I’d get into character, playing one who was empowered to manipulate emotions.  I just knew it was a beautiful thing to behold.

I was asking God for wisdom one day and He told me to stop walking on eggshells.  I thought of how my lovely eggshell dancing promoted peace in the house.  Surely I had misunderstood God because Jesus even said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” 

Again God told me to stop walking on eggshells because it was an unhealthy way to relate to someone.  I was befuddled.  ”Lord, if that’s unhealthy, you’re going to have to show me what healthy looks like.”

He said, “Relate to people like I relate to you.  Do I walk on eggshells around you?”

I imagined myself walking toward God’s throne.  God turns to Jesus and the angels saying nervously, “Oh dear, here comes Leah, I wonder what kind of mood she’s in today…”

Oh dear.

The eggshell dancing lifestyle was deeply rooted in my psyche.  Was I supposed to let him come home in a bad mood and not even try to fix it?  It felt unloving, like I didn’t care.  My thinking had to change.  I began to see the pride and disrespect in attempting to manipulate someone's emotions.  I saw that I wasn't created to carry the burden of another person’s happiness.  Love has greater freedom than that.  

As a matter of fact, I feel so free...I feel like dancing!

I love this life!