If I could erase one phrase from my children's vocabulary, it would be I want. We're working on helping them ask for things with a "May I have … please," but in the meantime, my world is full of I-wants. They start the moment they wake up–
I want a drink.
After a long stare from me–
Please.
I raise one eyebrow and flare my nostrils and the offender starts over–
May I have a drink, please?
I start to feel like a badly abused vending machine. And when they all start asking for the same thing at the same time, it's the equivalent of beating the machine on the glass and then shaking it back and forth.
It occurred to me that I might sound this way to God sometimes. God, I want the baby to sleep longer tonight. God, I want my children to obey me. God, I want you to heal so-and-so. I tack on the please as an afterthought.
I learned a long time ago that God answers prayer in His own way, in His own time. He says it's as simple as "Ask." We don't have to butter Him up with words of love. We don't have to wash our hands a certain way or go to a certain place. We can just ask.
Do you think He ever feels like a vending machine? The Bible says that if we don't praise Him, the rocks and the hills will cry out. So He obviously doesn't NEED my words of adoration. But He likes it. In this season of life, I feel I've accomplished something if I get two minutes of prayer time put together. Maybe I need to make worship a higher priority this week. Put the thought of who He is over what He does.
And maybe that will help me be a bit more patient when my kids ask me, the proper way, for the fiftieth time, for a glass of milk.
I'll let you know.
Photo courtesy of Imma_Thai.
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Lora Lynn chronicles the insanity and the joy that is family life with four kids (almost five) ages four and under at Vitafamiliae. On occasion, she squeezes in a little time for a home business.
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Yes!!
I've often heard people compare God to a vending machine – or how he isn't – but I've never heard it applied to moms. It's so accurate though, "I feel like a badly abused vending machine."
Like you say, though, keeping perspective of the higher purpose we serve, of the God that we serve, and who he is, and why we do what we do — hopefully all these things will help us keep our patience when the children are "banging on the glass" and "shaking the vending machine back and forth." (Of course – WHILE we're teaching them to push the button once and be patient!)
Lora Lynn, I love the tags at the end of this — somehow I never specifically thought about the connection between etiquette and God! but it's certainly something to think about! Thanks for another thought-provoking post.
This is so true. When I get upset and tired of hearing "mama, mama, mama, mama"- I stop and wonder if God gets tired of hearing "God, God, God" when I'm constantly calling on Him!!
Your post has really made me aware of the fact that I need to be more patient when my children call on me- Like our Precious Lord is patient when we call on Him!!
Nice theology! Interesting that real vending machines sometimes go faulty and either give 2 products for the price of 1. This is where we are different!