A Lesson Learned From My Kids
A few months ago this “lesson” came to me…and I pondered on it again last night while feeding sweet Eliza Jane.
As a parent I have witnessed many occasions where my child, whether Reynolds or now Eliza Jane, has completely lost it over milk.
Case in point when this lesson first came to me: Reynolds asked for some milk and as a good mom, I told him of course he could have a cup of milk. So as I walked to the kitchen and reached for the cabinet where his cups could be found, he started crying. What is wrong??! “Mok! Mok!” he exclaims. As if I was doing something completely unrelated to giving him what he’d requested originally. I remembered laughing and saying back to him something like, “Well, I have to get your cup first, baby.” And then even as I prepared the top and then reached for the refrigerator door, the wailing became louder. “REYNOLDS. Baby, I have to GET the milk and then pour it INTO your cup for you to be able to drink it.”. Lord, have mercy, please. And then, once he realizes that I’m not some evil being trying to keep him from what he so desperately wants, he laughs. As if to say, ha! Mom, I told you. Duh. Mok.
Or, on another occasion, I was bringing milk to him and before I could even say “Good morning!” He was acting like a lunatic. And I’m standing there holding the milk saying, “Seriously, kid?! It’s right here!” followed by, “I love you too…little stinker.”
Last night, the reminder came when Eliza Jane was starting to cry as she sat comfortably in her little chair. I warmed the water and then put her bottle in it so it would be the perfect temperature for when she started drinking. {I’m a fantastic mother, with the comfort of my children at the forefront of my mind…..I’ll take my award whenever you please.}
She started crying louder. And I chuckled to myself…poor little one. You think I’m going to withhold from you that which you so desire. As I fed her I thought, once again, how we become so anxious and even crazy at times to think that He will withhold that which we so desire. No, we might not get every little thing we want, but he will not keep from us that which we need.
Psalm 84:11 (which is the verse we chose for Reynolds’ verse board) states: For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” And then in Matthew 6:25-34 we’re told about the birds of the air and the flowers of the field having everything that they need…”will he not much more clothe you…..your heavenly Father knows that you need them all..”
The lesson: I will always be given what I need…though I may not see it coming to me or even understand HOW it’s coming, He will never withhold it.
You and I may have to go through some crud in our lives to get the really good good…but Romans 8:28 says that everything is used for my good… So, again, while you or I might be in the depths of the deep wondering where the money will come from, when the next meal will be provided, how I’m going to make it through {you fill in the blank}, the Lord will take care of you. It won’t be easy, and you may cry a little (or a lot), but just like Reynolds and Eliza Jane, you will get what you need. Don’t lose heart.