Yesterday I was out shopping with a certain 5-year-old who shall remain nameless. We weren't shopping for her but in our search for other things happened upon a pair of shoes she had been wanting for quite some time. On clearance. I was so excited that we might actually get the long-awaited shoes I had her try them on to see what size might fit. And she complained. The whole time. Next to the shoes she had "always wanted" were a pair of clearance sparkly shoes (good for nothing but looks) that she wanted "much more". Finally after whining about the third pair of shoes she had to try on, I stopped. Stopped making her try on shoes she obviously wasn't interested in any more. Stopped forcing her to take something for which I was freely, willingly, excited to give her. I was tired of fighting with her. So we left the store. Her, with no shoes. Me, with a very sad heart over how ungrateful, unappreciative and childish my child was behaving. (Yes, I see the irony there, thank you very much.) But what really tugged at my heart was the thought that was whispered into my soul:
"See how I feel when you refuse My best for you?"
Ouch.
It reminded me of that quote I posted about a while back from George McDonald and how God is giving us "good as fast as He can get us to take it in." Yesterday I learned my lesson: may I never be so distracted by the momentary "bling" that I miss out on the good I prayed for God to give me. He will not force His good on me; He's too much of a gentleman for that. And if I miss it by my complaining, whining, unwillingness, etc., oh the heartache that will follow! Not only for me, but for the Father who SO desired to give me good.
Thoughts?
No comments:
Post a Comment