Leandra is 3 years old. She has bright brown eyes and a very good mind. One day I was babysitting her, and she was watching her brother Max play games on my computer. Suddenly she announced that she was going to get a snack. "I do it myself!" she said emphatically.

"I'll help you," I said, and began to follow her. She repeated firmly, "I do it myself!" I watched her walk down the stairs. She turned, saw me, and said, "You stay upstairs, Grandpa. Keep an eye on Max." I tried not to laugh. At the bottom of the stairs she turned back, put one hand on her hip, and said, "I mean it, Grandpa!" I backed out of sight and roared with laughter. Later I checked on her. She had opened the refrigerator, found some packaged pudding, and gotten "her" spoon, but she needed me to open the container for her.

I thought later that there's a lot of that spirit of independence in me. I too want to "do it myself" when it comes to growing and serving as a believer in Jesus Christ. Yet I need to realize that even though I may think I don't need His help, I really do. Without it, I am unable to produce the kind of spiritual fruit Jesus talked about in John 15.

We must remember the words of our Lord, who said, "Without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).  — David C. Egner