By Jana | Leave A Comment
“Mommy, get me a drink!”
I go to get my three-year-old son a drink, popping the lid on the sippy cup before handing it to him.
“No!” he screams, “Not that cup!”
“I’m cold, Mommy.”
I hand him a shirt, some underwear and pants.
“I don’t like that shirt!” he complains. “Get me a different one!”
“I’m hungry, Mommy. What’s for dinner?”
I tell him.
“I hate that!” he announces.
Yes, raising a toddler can be a challenge. When the Bible challenges us to have a childlike faith, I don’t think we’re supposed to be childlike in other ways as well. Yet, how often do I act just like my little boy?
“Lord, I could really use a friend right now.”
Just then, the phone rings. Oh no – not her. She’ll talk my ear off!
“Father, please help me find a way to make some extra money.”
A friend calls and asks if I’ll babysit. She’ll pay me. I politely decline. After all, I spend all day with my kids. Why would I want to go watch someone else’s?
“It was so nice of the ladies from church to bring us these meals after my surgery,” I say to my husband. “It’s too bad they don’t know I’m on a low-carb diet.”
How many times has God given me just what I asked for, only to get whining and complaining in return?
How often do I fail to even recognize a blessing
because I’m so focused on what I want it to look like?
How many answers to prayer go unappreciated
because they’re not exactly what I expected?
I need to remember that God is not my waiter, and prayer is not a buffet.
I can’t just pick and choose my blessings. I need to remember James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” Thank you, Lord, for answered prayers, especially when they aren’t what I order. That’s when I’m blessed the most.
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In between raising and homeschooling four boys, being a landlord, and writing under-appreciated fiction, Jana blogs at Later…I’m Blogging.
ABOUT Jana
Jana is a busy homeschooling mom of four boys, a landlord, and a fiction writer.{read more}
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Hahaha… this is an interesting lesson to learn, isn’t it? And as enlightened as we all think we have become, we continue to do a whiny “gee, thanks” to God when we don’t get *exactly* what we wanted. I always wanted to live in the neighborhood I’m in. I had to sell my bigger home where I was always alone and rent this much smaller townhome where I am surrounded by friends. I still have the audacity to think, boy… I sure wish we had a little more room… I am so thankful that God loves me even when I whine and sulk.
A very good reminder!
Okay, thank you. I totally needed to see this today. I really did. Funny how it works that way.
Mary
I really appreciate this post. I love the quote, “I need to remember that God is not my waiter, and prayer is not a buffet.” I think so often, I treat prayer in just that way. Thank you for the challenge to pay attention to my blessings and to be appreciative.
Funny, but oh so true. We have been searching for the “right blessing” for your brother to live in. Maybe we have to re-think it? Thanks, that was wonderful.