Zone Defense

Zone Defense

My husband and I recently traveled to Mississippi to help our son Jamie with the children while our daughter-in-love Nicole was out of town for a few days.  We were keeping their four children, ages 8, 6, 4, and 2, while Jamie worked and Nicole was gone.  I confess that I wondered about our ability to do a good job at this stage of life with twice as many children as we raised.  The night before Nicole left, we were all sitting around, relaxing, and talking after the babies were all in bed.  Jamie looked at me and said, “Now, Mom.  I want to talk to you about your control issue.” 

Jamie knew what I know about myself:  I don’t do very well in uncontrolled situations.  Several years ago, there was a great book written by Barbara Sullivan entitled The Control Trap.  I took it a little personally when I was given my very own sixth copy.  I suppose a number of people felt compelled to help me with the rigid expectations I place on myself and can, apparently, impose on those nearest to me.  I like to drive wherever I go.  My husband drives when we are together, but not without my help.  He often wonders aloud how he gets home from work without my gentle encouragement. 

Regardless, Jamie attempted to encourage me using the sports’ metaphors so common in the conversations between my husband and our sons.  He talked to me about the schedules for four little ones, school hours, homework, the cancer benefit scheduled for one of those days after he finished his work at the clinic, ballet lessons, church, and meals.  I admit that I was more than a little overwhelmed.  Finally, he looked at me and said:  “Mom, I know that you like man-to-man coverage on everything, but with four kids, you are going to have to give it up and go to zone coverage.  There is a strong possibility that someone will break through the coverage.  One may be crying, one may be hurt, or one may be upset.  Just do the best you can and don’t worry about it.  It’s going to be fine.”  Years of being an avid football fan paid off in that moment.  I pictured so many games where, indeed, man-to-man coverage was the ideal, but zone defense still got the job done.

We had a wonderful few days with the children.  No one missed a meal.  No one needed stitches, and we returned the same four children we were given in the beginning.  Everything really was fine.  I had spent much more time in prayer over those few days than I might have if I had felt like I could do it.  I knew the job was above and beyond what I alone could manage.  It was impossible for me to hold onto control that I knew I did not have.  As a result, I was able to trust God’s Word, as He assured me in Psalm 37:7, that I can Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him…, and in Matthew 11:28-30, as Jesus Himself says, Come unto me, all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…  rest for your souls. 

In other words, I can relax from the control trap of man-to-man defense because the Lord God Himself has my back in the zone coverage.  The only difference is that God never lets a man, an issue, or a problem slip through.  He will take responsibility to pick up anywhere I am willing to admit my helplessness.  

© 2011 Gerry Sisk

(11/02/11)