Boy, That Looks Good!
May / June 2009
We
as humans are so funny. If you read last month’s article, the answer is
no, I did not succeed tremendously well at the whole not complaining
thing. I just found sneakier ways to do it…Instead of an outright
complaint (e.g. “It’s so stinking hot in here”) I would preface mine
with, “I’m not trying to complain but…” Which, by the way, absolutely
does NOT make the complaint any less of a complaint.
Even
better than that was when I would let myself grumble about something,
realize I had done so within hearing range of someone who knew about my
own challenge to myself, and cushion it at the end with a pathetic “but
at least I…uh… have a car that works!” Not that I haven’t made some
progress… at least now I am far more aware of my tendencies and
patterns that must change, but really, who do I think I’m fooling? I
fell far short of my goal, and for those of you who committed to do
this with me and also fell short, hey, there’s always today to try
again.
Speaking of funny tendencies of self-preservation, we
all have some. Even kids. One of my favorite things to watch is how
children are so shy to ask for something and yet they don’t hide their
desire for it at all – for example, you are crunching on a pack of
M&M’s and your little niece is eyeing every candy-coated bite you
take with rapt attention. With the exception of a very few brazen tots,
few children will just walk up and ask to have some. Most children in a
similar situation will just say something like, “Boy, I wish I could
have some of that” or even better, “What are you eating?” They know
perfectly well what you are eating but they hope that their question
may slap you back into reality and remind you of the importance of
sharing. Sometimes I play around with it a minute, just so I can see if
they will just trust me enough to ask directly. I reply with little
expression, “Yep, these are just some M&M’s I bought.” Or “You wish
you could have some? Hmmm, I wonder where you might be able to find
some.” I know, I know, it sounds kind of cruel – but why do they beat
around the bush? Are they afraid they won’t get what they want by just
asking directly?
Where am I going with this? Of course there is a spiritual parallel.
How
often you have watched from afar as others were enjoying something in
life – a sweet peace, an indestructible joy, a freedom in worship, a
contagious kindness, unshakable patience – while you just stood by
wishing you had what they did?
Would you share your M&M’s with your child if she asked you?
Matthew 7:11, NKJV
If
you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to
those who ask him!
I don’t want to stand on the
sidelines anymore, wasting time wishing I had what other “good”
Christians have. I have the same Father that they do, and in faith I
know that He aches to fulfill the very desires of my heart.
Psalm 37:4, NLT
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
So
why wouldn’t I just be direct with Him? Why would I waste time asking
others how they got what they have, reading countless books and going
through the rituals and struggling to make it come alive in my life
before I have even bothered to just ask?
James 1:5, NKJV
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
God is so good. He
made us and said that we were good, and as a good Father and a Good
Shepherd, He wants to be our delight and satisfaction. I want to trust
Him enough to come boldly to his throne and ask for help in my times of
need. He loves us. Let’s live like He does.
Hebrews 10:19-22, NLT
And
so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy
Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new
and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And
since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go
right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him.
James 1:17, NKJV
Every
good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the
heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
By Jennifer Yakopin
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