My granddaughter goes through this routine whenever she wants something from me. She opens her eyes wide (she calls them her “Bambi Eyes”), folds her little hands together and says, “Pleeease?” in a plaintive voice. I have to admit, it is hard to resist her because she looks so darn cute. But, usually she is asking for something she knows she shouldn’t have, like candy before dinner.
It occurred to me recently that this is the way I’ve been praying to my Father lately. I may not make the “Bambi Eyes”, but I fold my hands and ask for what I want.
One of the reasons it took me so long to see the similarities between my granddaughter and me, is that I am not asking for candy before dinner. I always feel that my requests are noble and in everyone’s best interests (of course).
Who can argue with the desire for a healthy body (to serve Him, naturally)? Who wouldn’t want to supply a house for that sweet family to live in? And, who wouldn’t want to immediately repair the strife in that marriage? Gimme, gimme, gimme, and do it now.
I am always so sure that I am on the same page as God that I stopped asking and WAITING FOR HIS ANSWER. Instead, I pretty much tell him what I need him to do and then ask Him to bless my plans.
In other words, I don’t want to eat my broccoli and I want my candy NOW!
At the beginning of the year I said I was going to focus on acceptance this year. Well, it is only February and I have already redefined acceptance. It went from meaning me accepting God’s will, to Him accepting my will. Somehow, I don’t think that’s what he had in mind when he put that word into my heart.
I think there is a very good reason we are called God’s children. We’re pretty sure that we know best. We want what we want when we want it. And, we even throw tantrums when we don’t get the results we expected.
Let’s face it, in reality I really am asking for my candy before dinner.
When our Father has to refuse our pleas, I wonder if He feels like I do when I have to discipline my granddaughter. It tears me up inside when I see her sad and disappointed face. Even though I know that saying no to her is to her benefit, it is still so painful. I wonder if our Father feels this same way about us. He must sigh and think, “When will she understand that I have a plan that will be far better in the end?” Or even, “When will she remember that I am in charge?!”
So, I am back at square one with acceptance again. This is going to be harder than I thought. There are just some things I do not want to accept. I’m going to work on it though. I will practice asking God what His plan is for my life and then try to accept His answer. It’s not going to be easy, but I’ll do my best to stop the begging and whining and try to rest in the assurance that His plans are infinitely better than any I could dream up.
And, I will try to remember that sometimes it is necessary to eat my broccoli before I get a treat.
